More than 65,000 immigrant adults were eligible to become citizens on the Central Coast in 2021 but had not naturalized. Citizenship determines access to voting, federal jobs, and ability to sponsor family members for immigration. It also provides protection from deportation that permanent residency does not guarantee.

Latinx immigrants made up about 48,500 of those eligible (74 percent) in 2021, followed by Asian American immigrants at 9,000 and white immigrants at 6,700. Ventura County had the largest eligible population at 35,900, followed by Santa Barbara at 22,800 and San Luis Obispo at 6,700.

Insights & Analyses: Central Coast

• Across the region, about 65,400 immigrant adults are eligible to naturalize. Among these, large numbers of Latinx, white, and Asian American immigrants are eligible to naturalize. About 48,500 Latinx immigrants, 9,000 Asian immigrants, 6,700 white immigrants are eligible for citizenship.
• Ventura County had 35,900 immigrants eligible to naturalize. About 25,700 Latinx immigrants, 4,900 white immigrants, and 4,400 Asian American immigrants were eligible for citizenship.
• About 22,800 immigrants in Santa Barbara are eligible to naturalize. Among these, about 18,300 Latinx immigrants, 2,800 white immigrants, and 1,600 Asian American immigrants are eligible for citizenship.
• In San Luis Obispo, about 6,700 immigrant adults are eligible to naturalize. Among these, about 4,600 Latinx immigrants were eligible to naturalize, while 1,300 white immigrants, and 700 Asian Americanss were eligible for citizenship.