Voces de la Fronterea celebrates newly naturalized voters in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Voces de la Frontera is celebrating newly naturalized voters in Wisconsin, and it's happening during Hispanic Heritage Month. 

The annual observance salutes the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements in the U.S. 

In Milwaukee on Thursday, Sept. 17, a gathering of local Latino speakers highlighted the power of the newly naturalized Latino vote and how barriers to achieving citizenship relate to voter suppression. 

"You are citizen right now. Then you are supposed to have civil awareness what does that mean? You need to have respect for themselves and the commitment for our family and for the community... You need to know the laws. You are by action, up for admission. You don't exercise the right, you lose it,"s said Galdys Ruiz, Peruvian-American, Hispanic Heritage Club. 

The speakers also advised people to quickly apply for citizenship, as the fees will be increasing by more than 80 percent on Oct. 2. This comes as the Trump administration raised the cost of naturalization applications in August.