Background

Former President Obama established the White House Task Force on New Americans in November 2014 in an effort to better integrate immigrants and refugees into American life. The Task Force then created the Building Welcoming Communities Campaign (BWCC) to encourage local communities to join the effort. The BWCC is focused around three principals of engagement; civic, economic, and linguistic to better integrate communities. The BWCC partnered with Welcoming America, a national non-profit organization with expertise in welcoming efforts, to further provide resources and education to local communities. Together, they provide technical assistance, resources, and guidance to local communities joining the BWCC. For more information, check out the BWCC Fact Sheet.

In December 2015, the Encinitas City Council formed a Welcoming Community Subcommittee. The Subcommittee held public meetings with stakeholders, residents, and service providers to evaluate opportunities and impacts and report back with recommendations. As a result from those meetings, a number of recommended actions were presented to the City Council on February 24, 2016. At the March 9, 2016 City Council Meeting, the City Council adopted Resolution 2016-30 supporting the City in becoming a Welcoming Community. In June 2016, the City of Encinitas officially joined the BWCC. For more information about the City of Encinitas’ participation in the BWCC, please contact the Housing Department at housing@encinitasca.gov or (760) 633-2711.

Citizenship Classes

Encinitas Library: Free Citizenship Classes are offered weekly at the Encinitas Library.

Mira Costa College: Free English as a Second Language (ESL) and Citizenship Classes are offered through Mira Costa College Continuing Education program. For more information and class schedules, please visit the Mira Costa College website.

211 San Diego

2-1-1 San Diego is a resource and information database that connects people with community services through a free, 24/7 phone service and online database. Residents can search a directory of over 6,000 health and human service programs from translation to housing assistance. Search 2-1-1 Service Directory for services specific to North County San Diego. If you are unable to find the resources you need, widen your search to the greater San Diego County area or call 2-1-1, and press 1 for English, 2 for Spanish and 3 for all other languages.

United States Citizen and Immigration Services United States Citizen and Immigration Services

The United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers many resources and services to immigrants. The USCIS links below provide information about naturalization and the citizenship process. Please visit Recursos para la naturalización for resources available in Spanish.

• Learn About Naturalization: Understand the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.
• Apply for Citizenship: Identify the steps needed to apply for citizenship.
• Study for the Test: Prepare for the naturalization interview and test.
• Understand Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities: Learn about important citizenship rights and responsibilities.

San Diego Local USCIS Office
1325 Front Street
San Diego, CA 92101

To visit the USCIS office or speak with an Immigration Information Officer, you must have an appointment scheduled by USCIS, or you must schedule an appointment. You can also call USCIS toll-free at 1-800-375-5283 for automated information and live assistance.

Fair Housing

Every person in the United States is protected by the Fair Housing Act. Immigration status does not affect ones’ federal fair housing rights. If you believe you are a victim of housing-related discrimination or would like more information about fair housing laws, please call the Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD) at (844) 449-3500 or visit the LASSD website. LASSD provides fair housing services for Encinitas residents at no cost. LASSD also provides education and guidance to property owners and managers on fair housing-related issues. For information on the City's housing programs and services please visit the Housing Resources page.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website contains information and regarding Fair Housing.