Growing Share of Immigrants Choosing Naturalization

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The proportion of all legal foreign-born residents who have become naturalized U.S. citizens rose to 52% in 2005, the highest level in a quarter of a century and a 14 percentage point increase since 1990, according to an analysis by the Pew Hispanic Center.

The population of naturalized citizens reached 12.8 million in 2005, a historic high that reflects both a rise in the number of legal migrants and an increased likelihood that those who are eligible apply for citizenship. As a result of these combined trends, the average number of naturalizations annually has increased from fewer than 150,000 in the 1970s to more than 650,000 since the mid-1990s.

By 2005 (the last year for which figures are available), naturalized citizens accounted for slightly more than one-in-two (52%) legal foreign-born residents. Among all 36 million foreign-born residents in 2005, naturalized citizens made up a slim plurality (35%) over legal non-citizens (33%) and unauthorized migrants (31%). In 1995, legal non-citizens had accounted for a near majority (47%) of the 24 million foreign-born residents who were in the country at the time, compared to 30% who were naturalized residents and 20% who were unauthorized migrants.

The population of immigrants who are eligible for naturalization was 8.5 million in 2005 and of these more than a third, or nearly 3 million, were Mexican. Mexicans still have a comparatively lower tendency to become U.S. citizens, but the number of naturalized citizens from Mexico rose by 144% from 1995 to 2005--the most of any major sending country.

Source: http://pewhispanic.org/reports/report.php?ReportID=74

Full Report: http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/74.pdf

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

More uppity US citizens to refuse to do the jobs illegals are here to do.

[Heracles 417]

What financial incentive do you think they know of to be doing this..

[peejay 327]

My mom's parents were both immigrants from Byelorussia. My grandfather became a US citizen in 1943 after living in the USA for 33 years. My grandfather was a longshoreman at the Port of Houston. My mom told me the main reason he became a US citizen was because foreign nationals were forbidden to work in some areas of the port during World War 2. My grandmother never became a US citizen and died in the USA as a citizen of the USSR. Everybody has their reasons for becoming a citizen or not becoming a citizen.

I have explained to my wife the benefits of US citizenship and urged her to do it, but it is her decision to make. She will be eligible to submit her application for citizenship at the end of this year.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

My grandfather was a longshoreman at the Port of Houston. My mom told me the main reason he became a US citizen was because foreign nationals were forbidden to work in some areas of the port during World War 2.

My wife will be filing for natz for similar reasons. It's kind of hard to "feel" American when you've only been here 2-3 years.

[Heracles 417]

I think it is great that these people are becoming American citizens. I just hope they are, and any other immigrant for that matter, doing it for the right reason.

Ultimately, that is their genuine love for this country, it's people and general way of life; be it good or bad.

Edited March 30, 2007 by Infidel

[almaty 19]

sanita will also go for the usa citizenship..her retirement is held in escrow in almaty and cannot be released unless she becomes a citizen....she will be albe to retian her kazakhstan citizenship too...

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

sanita will also go for the usa citizenship..her retirement is held in escrow in almaty and cannot be released unless she becomes a citizen....she will be albe to retian her kazakhstan citizenship too...

cool. dual citizenship is fine and most countries have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on it

[almaty 19]

sanita will also go for the usa citizenship..her retirement is held in escrow in almaty and cannot be released unless she becomes a citizen....she will be albe to retian her kazakhstan citizenship too...

cool. dual citizenship is fine and most countries have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on it

i agree, i wish i had a dual...