Thread: U.S. citizenship applications in L.A. triple

U.S. citizenship applications in L.A. triple
By Teresa Watanabe

The number of citizenship applications received in the Los Angeles area tripled in September compared with the same period last year, despite a major application fee increase that immigration experts feared could drastically set back demand.

Nationwide, citizenship applications also increased in August and September compared with last year, according to new figures from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The applications are on track to surpass the 1-million mark, a milestone reached only twice in the last century — both times in the mid-1990s. That’s when many illegal immigrants who received amnesty in the 1980s became eligible for citizenship, and a political backlash against them motivated many to apply.

This year, similar dynamics are in place, immigration experts said.


“The anti-immigrant sentiment is bordering on the xenophobic, and people are taking notice of that,â€

Even if they apply it doesn't allow them to vote does it?

Originally Posted by agrneydgrl

Even if they apply it doesn't allow them to vote does it?

Legally no. But with the disarray government records are in, with voter monitors not making any real efforts to ensure someone is a citizen who is voting and the like...anything is game.

Here in Ct. you have to show your drivers license and then both parties registrars cross your name off of their lists before you can vote. No ID no voting.

I sure hope its the same elsewhere, we have too many problems with our elections lately. We do not need sloppy voting happening.

I listened a while back to LaRaza about getting as many "immigrants" as citizens and voters to basically use "their many" as a power tool in getting what they want.

Sure seems funny so many who have been for years and never became citizens all of sudden think its time too.

Citizenship requests up 300 percent in LA
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 11/04/2007 04:39:33 AM PST

LOS ANGELES—Despite a fee increase, the number of people who applied for U.S. citizenship in the Los Angeles area tripled in September over the same month in 2006, according to federal figures.
There were 24,377 applications, compared to 8,216 for September 2006, according to new figures from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The increase came even though the application fee rose from $400 to $675 on July 30.

However, authorities said some of the applications received in September might have been filed before the rate hike. There have been so many applications received that it can take up to 15 weeks to issue a receipt.

Julia A. Moreno, 62, of Los Angeles, applied for citizenship in September. The Guatemalan native had been eligible to apply for more than a dozen years but said the political climate and the fee increase finally prompted her to act.

"I decided I have to do it now," she said. "I have no choice. They may get rid of green cards next, or increase the fee even more."

Moreno paid the fee with the help of a zero-interest loan from the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund in Los Angeles.

"The anti-immigrant sentiment is bordering on the xenophobic, and people are taking notice of that," said the fund's Evan Bacalao. "So even though the fees have increased, people still want to make sure their voices are heard."

Recently, an alliance of hundreds of organizations launched a national campaign to urge immigrants to apply for citizenship in time for the 2008 election.

Nationwide, citizenship applications also increased in September and could top the 1 million mark for the year. That has happened only twice before in the last century, both times in the mid-1990s.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_7369263