Citizenship and ESL Classes

Hmong Cultural Center's ESL and Citizenship Classes have been strongly impacted by Operation Metro Surge in 2026. The state funding model for these classes is based solely on student seat count (student attendance hours). The long-term fall out of Operation Metro Surge and ongoing draconian federal immigration policies continue to impact our student attendance. Our contact hours are down 60% in fiscal year 2026 and have not recovered to date as many community members remain fearful. This means that the state funding for this program will decrease by 60% in fiscal year 2027 if these trends continue. All of the declines started in winter 2026 after Metro Surge and new federal policies were implemented. It will be impossible for us to maintain the same level of service and programs including ESL and Citizenship programs moving forward during these challenging times without local community and funder support. 

HCC provides 16 hours of ESL classes and 24 hours of Citizenship classes weekly. We have helped thousands of Hmong and other immigrants improve their English and earn their Citizenship over the past three decades. We are asking for your help so we can continue this important programming during this difficult time for our community. With a far more challenging Citizenship exam and a more burdensome naturalization process, immigrant permanent residents need even more assistance in navigating the system.