Citizenship Ceremony Shows Mexicans Taking Legal Path
 Associated Press
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Tulsa, Okla. - Ten of the 27 people sworn in as new U.S. citizens at a ceremony in Tulsa were from Mexico, indicating that many Mexican immigrants are choosing legal naturalization proceedings over illegal border crossings and the risk of deportation.
Natives of 16 countries took the citizenship oath on Wednesday. Aside from Mexico, no other country had more than two natives who became naturalized citizens.
Roberto Barbosa Alvarez, 38, of Broken Arrow said he studied every day for two months for the 100-question test that prospective citizens must take. Alvarez's efforts paid off, as he earned a perfect score, he said.
He said that if fellow natives of Mexico who are legally in the United States "have a chance to become a citizen, they should do it now."
A bill to revamp the country's immigration system derailed in late June in the U.S. Senate, but the issue is not going away.
Maria Angelica Ortega, 33, said her father, Luis Tapia, 53, became a naturalized citizen eight years ago. Although Ortega completed the naturalization process Wednesday, she said she tries not to be judgmental about illegal immigration.
"It's really sad because a lot of those people deserve a chance," she said.
Still, another of the new citizens, Tina Breedlove, said she does not support widespread amnesty for those who have crossed the border illegally.
They should fill out the proper legal paperwork and comply with official citizenship procedures, she said. Breedlove, who was born in Mexico and whose father is from there, said her family followed the proper steps and immigrated legally.
National statistics show that of the more than 600,000 lawful permanent residents who were naturalized in 2005, 12.8 percent came from Mexico.
The Phillipines ranked second, with 6.1 percent, the statistics show.
Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com |
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News from Around the Americas | August 2007 
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