Ogden, UT – Ogden city officials have formalized a pilot program aimed at helping legal immigrants in Weber County navigate the complex process of becoming U.S. citizens. The new initiative, known as the Path to Citizenship program, was introduced to assist the nearly 60,000 legal permanent residents in Utah who are eligible for naturalization, with approximately 3,300 of those residents residing in Weber County.
Linda Lartigue, head of Ogden’s Office of Community Engagement, has played a key role in developing the program. She explained that, on average, immigrants spend seven years as legal residents before seeking U.S. citizenship. The Path to Citizenship program is designed to address this delay by removing obstacles and educating participants on their civic responsibilities as they transition to full U.S. citizenship.
“The goal of the Path program is to remove obstacles to obtaining citizenship and to educate new citizens on their civic responsibilities,” said Lartigue.
The program, which officially launched last year as a pilot, successfully guided 17 residents of Weber County through the citizenship process. These individuals came from a range of countries, including Germany, Mexico, Bolivia, Brazil, and South Africa. The success of the pilot prompted the Ogden City Council to approve the program as an annual initiative, which will now accept up to 30 participants per cycle.
City Council Chairman Ken Richey reflected on the experience, noting, “It was neat to be part of this last year, watching those go through the program and the graduation ceremony, and then ultimately doing the citizenship ceremony in these chambers was a neat opportunity, as well.”
The Path to Citizenship program offers participants a comprehensive experience. They attend a citizenship and civics class provided by the Weber County Library System and receive support from immigration experts at Catholic Community Services, an immigrant advocacy group. Local community leaders, including law enforcement officers, members of the judiciary, and government officials, also visit the classes to offer guidance and share insights about life as a U.S. citizen.
The program has received a $21,000 budget for 2025, with the majority of the funds — $14,200 — allocated to cover the cost of the U.S. citizenship application for class participants. Other key partners include My Hometown Ogden, a civic organization, and United Way of Northern Utah.
Applications for the 2025 session of the program are expected to open soon, with classes scheduled to begin in March. To participate, applicants must have been lawful permanent residents for at least three to five years, possess basic English skills, and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States.
Lartigue emphasized that the initiative is designed to foster a smooth and supportive transition to citizenship, helping legal immigrants fully integrate into the community and contribute to its growth and success. With the program now institutionalized as an annual offering, Ogden aims to expand its impact and support even more aspiring citizens in the years to come.