More Legal Immigrants Seek US Citizenship

Tougher laws, rising fees drive increase in demand
By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 5, 2007 8:30 AM CDT
More Legal Immigrants Seek US Citizenship
Cristoval Cuebas, center, of Mexico, stands with 153 other former Mexican citizens during the 19th annual Fiesta of Independence after they were sworn in as new American citizens at South Mountain Community College, Wednesday, July 4, 2007, in Phoenix. The citizenship event brought in 350 residents...   (Associated Press)

A burgeoning number of legal immigrants are applying for US citizenship—115,000 in May, compared with 65,782 last December. The Times reports immigrants are worried about tougher citizenship tests, rising processing fees, and insecurity in the wake of the furor over the federal immigration bill.

Processing fees for naturalization jump from $400 to $675 on July 30, the Times reports. Many immigrants say they want influence in future American immigration policy.  Several groups celebrated Independence Day yesterday with swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens. In Orlando, Fla., 1,000 immigrants took the oath beneath the turrets of Cinderella's castle at Disney World. (More immigration reform stories.)

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