Thousands of immigrants from across the nation are taking steps to become U.S. citizens in hopes of taking down one man -- Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump.
In June 2015, the business mogul called Mexican immigrants “criminals” and “rapists.”
Now, “In places like Colorado, Texas and Florida, we’re seeing thousands and thousands of immigrants who don’t have naturalization yet saying, ‘I want to become naturalized and I want to vote against Donald Trump,’” says Tefere Gebre, the executive vice president of the AFL-CIO.
Citizenship drive organizers in California say they’ve seen a huge spike in interest from people who want to become citizens.
Nearly one million people are expected to apply for naturalization in 2016, according to The New York Times. That's about 200,000 more people than average in recent years.
“I’m an example—I’m neither a thief, nor a rapist, nor a delinquent," says Leticia Aguilar, who is seeking U.S. citizenship, in a Huffington Post video. "I’m none of that; I’m an honest worker and do my work with a lot of effort and dedication.”
At centers across the country, organizers help immigrants fill out an application, speak with a lawyer and take classes to prepare for the citizenship test.
Even though only 18 percent of Hispanics take Trump seriously as a presidential candidate, the Republican has vowed he “will win the Latino vote” if nominated.
“Mexicans need to come together to bring him down, stomp on him and keep him crushed,” says Reina Chambers, another woman seeking U.S. citizenship.
Watch the video above.
Editor's note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims -- 1.6 billion members of an entire religion -- from entering the U.S.
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