Almost 1 of 2 new Americans in 2008 was Latino

   By  SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer Suzanne Gamboa, Associated
   Press Writer Tue Apr 7, 3:12 am ET

   WASHINGTON  - Hispanics made up nearly half of the more than 1 million
   people  who  became  U.S.  citizens last year, according to a Hispanic
   advocacy group.

   The  National  Association  of  Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
   said  the  number  of Latinos who became Americans in fiscal year 2008
   more  than  doubled  over the previous year, to 461,317. That's nearly
   half  of  the  record  1,046,539  new  citizens  overall in 2008, a 58
   percent increase from 2007.

   "Latinos  who  naturalize are eager to demonstrate their commitment to
   America  by  becoming  full  participants in our nation's civic life,"
   said  NALEO  president Arturo Vargas, whose nonpartisan group works to
   improve  the  citizenship process and increase Latino participation in
   civic activities.

   NALEO  based  its findings on Homeland Security Department data on the
   number  of  new  citizens  last year who immigrated from predominantly
   Spanish-speaking countries.

   In a report released in March, the agency attributed the record number
   of  new citizens to the nearly 1.4 million citizenship applications it
   received  in  2007.  Most  were  from people who wanted to beat a $265
   increase in the citizenship application fee, from $330 to $595.

   But  the department also credited "special efforts" by Hispanic media,
   community  groups  and  a union with high immigrant membership, all of
   which urged eligible permanent residents to pursue citizenship.

   In  fiscal  year  2008,  231,815  people originally from Mexico became
   citizens,  up  almost  90  percent from 2007. Increases in citizenship
   among  Latino  immigrants from other countries were: 39,871 from Cuba,
   up 160 percent from the previous year; 35,796 from El Salvador, up 109
   percent;  17,954  from  Nicaragua,  up  120  percent;  and 17,087 from
   Guatemala, a 109 percent rise.

   Most  of  last  year's  new  Hispanic  citizens  lived  in California,
   followed by Florida.

   Vargas  cited  the  data  to  encourage  the  Obama administration and
   Congress to ease the cost of applying for immigration benefits.

   "Despite  the  record  number  of  naturalizations,  there  are  still
   millions  of  eligible  legal  permanent  residents  who  have not yet
   applied  for  U.S.  citizenship  or  who  encounter  barriers  in  the
   naturalization process," Vargas said.