Millions refuse U.S. Citizenship

Miami Herald ^ | 09/18/03 | ALFONSO CHARDY

[bedolido]

IMMIGRANT RESEARCH

Poor language skills and pride in national origin are two reasons why nearly eight million foreign residents eligible for U.S. citizenship have not applied, according to a study released Wednesday.

Mexicans and Canadians are among the nationalities least likely to apply for citizenship, the report by the Washington-based Urban Institute found. Historically, there have been millions of immigrants with green cards who have not sought citizenship for various reasons, but this is the first time a study has focused on the issue.

''Despite rising naturalization rates, the pool of legal immigrants eligible to naturalize remains strikingly large,'' the study said.

OFFICE CREATED

To encourage more applications, the Bush administration this week announced the creation of the Office of Citizenship.

Eduardo Aguirre, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in a recent interview with The Herald that his goal is to eventually naturalize one million new citizens per year. In 2002, about 573,000 foreigners became citizens.

''We share many of the same concerns in the Urban Institute brief,'' said Dan Kane, a spokesman for Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Typically, surges in naturalization applications follow changes in federal immigration law. A record 1.4 million applications were submitted in 1997, a year after Congress tightened immigration laws. Applications soared again after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks when more restrictions were introduced.

OTHER REASONS

Other reasons that dissuade foreigners from seeking citizenship are fear of rejection and for some Canadians and Mexicans proximity to their homeland.

Of the 7.9 million eligible foreign residents, 2.3 million are from Mexico, according to the report. The report did not include a breakdown for Canadians.

The rate of Mexicans seeking citizenship has climbed from 19 percent in 1995 to 34 percent in 2001, the report said.

The number of Canadians seeking citizenship has remained at about 50 percent in recent years.

''Canadians are more likely than Mexicans to naturalize, but less likely than others to naturalize,'' said Jeffrey S. Passel, demographer and principal research associate at the Urban Institute. By comparison, the percentage of Asian nationals seeking citizenship is about 67 percent.

Foreign nationals seeking asylum or fleeing from dictatorship were among the most likely to want to become American, Passel said. Seventy three percent of Cubans seek citizenship, he said.

[Lazamataz]

BILLIONS OF PEOPLE DON'T COME TO AMERICA
Women, children hit hardest

[ffusco]

Why bother, as uninvited guests they get much at no cost. Ther should be rounded up and forced to live in Alaska.

[Beck_isright]

"Office of Citizenship"

Has that real cool, ya know, like, 1984 ring to it...doesn't it?

[thegreatbeast]

I confess I only read the first few sentences but these people don't belong here. Ship them out. Now!

[cyborg]

My friend just called to report they're taking her fingerprints for her citizenship test (US that is). She's from Ghana. My mother didn't become a US citizen for twenty five years because of national,ethnic pride. After she became a US citizen, I think she saw many of her fears were unfounded. She loves America, but Trinidad will always be home and England will always be the mother country.

Perhaps the biggest reason for Canadians and Mexicans not becoming citizens is the closeness of countries, and it's not as if Canada is like Cuba (oppression and poverty).

[Maceman]

Poor language skills and pride in national origin are two reasons why nearly eight million foreign residents eligible for U.S. citizenship have not applied, according to a study released Wednesday.

If they are so damn proud of their national origin, then what the HELL are they doing HERE? I am proud as hell of MY natural origin, which is why I am not living outside of the US.

BTW, everyone needs to be reminded that there are only four kinds of people living in this country:

*Native Americans
*Foreign-born naturalized Americans
*Legal guests of the American People.
*Criminals.

[CaptRon]

Poor language skills and pride in national origin

If they're so proud of their national origin why aren't the still in their nation?

[Happy2BMe]

"Of the 7.9 million eligible foreign residents, 2.3 million are from Mexico, according to the report. The report did not include a breakdown for Canadians."

I question those numbers.

Mexicans are far more likely to benefit from U.S. citizenship for reasons of improving their living standards than are Canadians.

When was the last time you walked into "Mall USA" and seen hundreds and hundreds of Canadians hanging around the entrance or walking up and down the aisles in WalMart?

[varon]

Millions refuse U.S. Citizenship

What else besides a 3" x 5" American flag on a popsickle stick at the ceremonies do they get that they don't enjoy already? Where is the incentive?

[Modernman]

Why bother, as uninvited guests they get much at no cost. Ther should be rounded up and forced to live in Alaska

This is about people who are eligible for citizenship but won't apply, this has nothing to do with illegals. Legal residents pay the same taxes and have the same responsibilites (registering for selective service, for example) as citizens. Having gone through the incredible red tape of applying for citizenship, I'm betting a lot of these people are intimidated by the INS bureacracy.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

To encourage more applications, the Bush administration this week announced the creation of the Office of Citizenship.

Bush is to immigration what Carter was to the nation's energy policy.

[Happy2BMe]

"Where is the incentive?"

There is none.

Neither is there a disincentive caused by immigration control - it doesn't exist.

[Modernman]

Bush is to immigration what Carter was to the nation's energy policy.

This has nothing to do with immigration- these are people who are already here. Encouraging them to become citizens won't encourage an increase in immigration.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[William Terrell]

If they became American citizens, they would have to shoulder the moral responsibilies for that citizenship.

[ffusco]

That's why I said they should be re-located to a harsh environment and not deported. Not applying for citizenship is not just paperwork, it is a slap in the face to their new country.


BTW, non citizens should not be serving in any civil service job including the military. Those jobs are for American citizens.

[ffusco]

BINGO!

[RightWhale]

Ther should be rounded up and forced to live in Alaska.

Thanks, but no thanks.