# Honoring Huerta includes protecting naturalized citizens

> Naturalized citizens face barriers to citizenship despite voting commitment.
- Title: Honoring Huerta includes protecting naturalized citizens
- Summary: Naturalized citizens face barriers to citizenship despite voting commitment. Naturalized citizens in Illinois report feeling less secure in their citizenship…
- Keywords: dolores huerta, naturalized citizens, national partnership for new americans, illinois, voting, citizenship, midterms, perioperative nurses, faith-based schools, school funding, Chicago Sun-Times
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/letters-to-the-editor/2026/11/07/dolores-huerta-naturalized-citizens-perioperative-nurses-school-funding-church-reporting-downspouts
- Published: 2026-11-07T12:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: dolores huerta, naturalized citizens, national partnership for new americans, illinois, voting, citizenship, midterms, perioperative nurses, faith-based schools, school funding, news, local
## Dolores Huerta's legacy
Dolores Huerta dedicated her life to ensuring every person deserves dignity without extraordinary sacrifice.

> In this Feb. 27, 2019, file photo, Dolores Huerta stands for the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish while visiting the New Mexico Statehouse.
## Midterm election results
The recent midterm election rejected the administration's corruption, cruelty and billionaire-first agenda.
## Naturalized citizens' commitment
90% of naturalized citizens report being deeply committed to voting in the United States.
## Citizenship insecurity
More than half of naturalized citizens feel less secure in their citizenship despite working hard to earn it.
## Economic pressures
78% of naturalized citizens cite grocery and food prices as their top priority, with 44% reporting worsening household finances.
## Honoring Huerta's call
Protecting naturalized citizens' rights and removing barriers to citizenship are essential to honoring Huerta's legacy.
## Perioperative nurses
139,000 registered nurses work in Illinois, with 94,000 in Chicago, providing critical surgical care.
## Faith-based schools
The Field School serves 330 students in Austin, with one-third Black, one-third Latino and one-third white students.
## School funding issue
Illinois schools face a $6.8 billion funding gap, with 9 out of 10 students in public schools.
## Voucher program concerns
Voucher programs risk discrimination against LGBTQ+ students and lack civil rights protections.
## Downspouts issue
Chicago leaders need to make disconnection of downspouts from homes mandatory to stop raw sewage dumping.
## Church reporting
Sharon Schmidt reports on sexual abuse by Christian leaders and the need for context in church teachings.
## Naturalized citizens' needs
Naturalized citizens require protection from barriers to citizenship and economic support to fully participate in democracy.
## Illinois school funding
Illinois needs to allow federal scholarship tax credits to fund faith-based schools serving children in poverty.
## Voucher program opposition
Baptist pastor opposes voucher programs due to risks of discrimination and lack of civil rights protections.
## What happens next
Illinois leaders must honor Huerta's legacy by protecting naturalized citizens and removing barriers to citizenship.
## Key takeaway

Naturalized citizens in Illinois report feeling less secure in their citizenship despite high voting commitment, urging protection of their rights.