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.

[dennisw]

Another reason is these immigrants have zero loyalty to the United States of America. They are economic opportunists only. They are here for the money to be made, to educate their children. And their long term plans are to retire/return to the old country and live like a king on what they made here, on the taxes they avoided in their convenience stores, cleaning services and restaurants and the SS payments they can recieve in Mexico, Peru, Greece, Poland when they return home.

[cyborg]

I agree

[ffusco]

Ministry of Citizenship or (MiniCit) which deals with extradition and deportation of non-citizens...

[Pan_Yans Wife]

So does, "Homeland Security".

[1rudeboy]

Umm . . . this article has nothing to do with illegal immigration.

[gubamyster]

ping

[mewzilla]

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

Well, one national I know has been dodging his nation's draft. Some of his friends have done the same.

[1rudeboy]

And, and, they talk funny!

[ffusco]

Don't be so selfish, Alaska is a freaking sub-continent!

Surely some accomodation can be made on some island in the Aluetian chain, or on a tundra near the Arctic circle.

[cyborg]

This country has a long history of allowing non-citizens to fight in the military in exchange for citizenship. If anything, a person who is a non-citizen should not be allowed to remain in the US military without becoming one. BTW, why isn't Puerto Rico a state? Just wondering.

[CheneyChick]

LOL - sorry, my bad. I have that topic on the brain these days. Doh!

[dfwgator]

Umm . . . this article has nothing to do with illegal immigration.

True, but it does have everything to do with allowing people to live in this country without being loyal to it.

[Mr. Mojo]

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

Good question. A few years ago in L.A. there was a soccer match at the Coliseum between the U.S. and Mexican teams. I wasn't actually there, but I saw all the lowlights on the local news that night and read the commentary by local sportswriters who were. Of the 90,000+ in attendance, it was estimated that 75,000 were either Mexicans (illegals and green card holders) or Mexican-Americans. Mexican flags were waving everywhere, and both the U.S. team and flag were booed mercilessly. In addition, "urine bombs" - plastic baggies filled with urine - were being tossed at both the American players AND the few fans of the American team who were gutsy enough to show their alleigance.

If these people desise the U.S. and love Mexico so, then whyinthehell are they here?

[Carry_Okie]

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.

A nation that doles out buckets of public assistance indiscriminately, doesn't require citizenship, understanding its language, or respecting its laws are the principal reasons why nearly eight million foreign residents eligible for U.S. citizenship have not applied, according common sense logic understood by all but immigrunt activist academics and complicit bureaucrats doling out grant money.

[Noachian]

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

Why does the most powerful nation on earth need a bureaucracy to "encourage" aliens to come here? The last I heard we were having a hard time keeping them out. It might do the country good to see less immigrants coming this way. Let them go toFrance.

Mexicans and Canadians are among the nationalities least likely to apply for citizenship

Why should they? A lot of Mexicans aren't here to become Americans; they're here to become middle class Mexicans retiring in Mexico. American citizenship means little to people just here for the money. Meanwhile they change our laws, drain our treasury, and then head back the Third World Mexican towns they came from while Americans have to live with the changes they wrought here.

[Modernman]

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.

A lot of it has to do with being afraid of dealing with a bureaucracy. How unpleasent is a day at the DMV? Well, the citizenship process can take upwards of 2 years and involves at least hallf-a-dozen visits to the INS. There's no concerted effort to "slap" America in the face. These people aren't violating any laws.

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

Non-citizens can't work for the federal government. They can work for state governments (states have no power to deny rights to legal residents).

As for the military, shouldn't we be encouraging non-citizens to join the armed forces? Can you think of any better way to encourage patriotism in non-citizens. Why shouldn't a non-citizen be allowed to lay his life on the line for the US?

[Paulus Invictus]

And where is Homeland Security in this unending debacle? (sorry, I keep asking this question. Worse, I just discovered that my state is one that allows illegals to get drivers licenses--OH, THE HUMANITY!)

[dennisw]

And, and, they talk funny!.

And are rude like you! Such a deal!!

[Modernman]

Another reason is these immigrants have zero loyalty to the United States of America. They are economic opportunists only.

Legal residents pay the same taxes as American citizens and make the same payments into social security. So, anything they get in the way of social security, they paid for.

The right kind of immigration is vital to any nation. Lack of immigration leads to cultural stgnation, in the long-term.

[Alouette]

When was the last time you walked into "Mall USA" and seen hundreds and hundreds of Canadians hanging around the entrance

How can you tell if they are Canadians? Are they wearing Maple Leafs jerseys or Blue Jays baseball caps?