February 5, 2011 (CHICAGO) --
A statewide group of 55 organizations held its 1,000th workshop Saturday as it helps immigrants become citizens.The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights conducted the workshop for more than 100 immigrants.
Gov. Pat Quinn helped a permanent resident fill out her citizenship application.
He also spoke at the event, which was called "One Nation, One Dream."
"The highest office in a democracy is not the office of president or governor or mayor. It's the office of citizen," Quinn said.
The West Side Technical Institute of Daley College was designated a U.S. courtroom for Saturday so that a federal judge could give the oath of citizenship to 26 applicants.
Then the judge and the governor greeted and congratulated each of the new Americans.