The partnership, with its New American Initiative, has investigated ways for immigrants to integrate more fully into the community, and how they can capitalize on their right to vote and their job skills by becoming citizens, according to Anna Anderson, the partnership coordinator.

Gov. Martin O'Malley signed an executive order in December 2008, creating the Maryland Council for New Americans to assist the partnership.

Anderson thinks such citizenship work was unique in the U.S.

The partnership will also foster a growing network of organizations across the state focused on providing much-needed resources to Maryland's immigrant population, she said.

Early in November, the local nonprofit Centro Hispano de Frederick started its own series of citizenship classes for a few dozen immigrants, mostly from Latin America.

James Chung is doing similar work in Western Maryland with AmeriCorps, helping permanent residents become U.S. citizens.

Since October, Chung said, he has spoken with about 40 or 50 people interested in gaining citizenship. Some speak excellent English, have been established in the state for years, if not decades, and need little more than some help filling out the $675 application for citizenship, known as the N-400.

Still others have used Chung's and Centro Hispano's citizenship instruction as an impetus to sharpen their language skills.

Eduardo and Maria De La Torre are two of Chung's pupils. He teaches them English and U.S. history as a supplement to the citizenship classes they are taking at Centro Hispano.

The couple married and in 1992 they left their home in Capilla de Guadalupe, Mexico, a small ranching town about a four hours northwest of Mexico City. They hoped for better job opportunities and a better life in California.

Jobs were scarce, however, so in 1996 they picked up and moved to Gaithersburg, Eduardo said.

He now works as a school bus driver in Olney, though he, his wife and their three children, all born in the U.S., have lived in Frederick for about six years.

The De La Torres became permanent residents about 10 years ago, they said.

Eduardo wants to be able to vote, he said. Maria worries about how foreign-born residents are sometimes treated in the area. Both yearn for the same rights as their citizen peers and believe citizenship will open up job opportunities with the government.

"Somebody told us about the (citizenship classes at Centro Hispano), Eduardo De La Torre said, "and we thought: 'This is the time to learn.'"

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.