The Dominican Republic has been chosen by the US as a model for a pilot program for guidance and education for immigrants wishing to live and work there permanently. To that effect, the Director of the US Office of Immigration and Citizenship Services, Alfonso Aguilar, opened the program at the US Consulate by delivering information material to Dominicans who had just received their resident visas. Aguilar stated that the program is aimed at having all Dominican and other immigrants integrate into the civic culture of the United States, for them to start learning English and the civic principles that define American identity, as soon as they arrive. Aguilar was interviewed by Listin Diario at the US Embassy residence in the company of ambassador Hans Hertell.