Citizenship applications soar in South Florida

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/10/31/2 ... -soar.html

By Alfonso Chardy

achardy@ElNuevoHerald.com


Amid applause and tears, 205 immigrants from 35 countries took their oath of allegiance to their adoptive country last week and became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony at the Miami office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The ceremony was no different from many others that have taken place there. Yet the new citizens are part of an increase of citizen applications in South Florida and the rest of the country due to the growing interest among immigrants in the 2012 presidential election, immigration officials say.

“The number of naturalizations always goes up when there is an upcoming presidential election,â€