Citizenship interest surges

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sun, Aug. 01, 2004



TAKING PART: Heber Siri will be among 9,000 immigrants taking the oath of allegiance in naturalization ceremonies Aug. 10-11 in Miami Beach. CANDACE BARBOT/HERALD STAFF



EAGER TO VOTE: Patricia de Magalhaes Lima, who became an American citizen last September, believes 'we are living in a delicate moment' and that voting in the next presidential election is critically important. PETER ANDREW BOSCH/HERALD STAFF

CAMPAIGN 2004


Citizenship interest surges

A recent increase in applications for citizenship likely indicates interest in voting on the part of many immigrants -- plus a desire to avoid a fee increase.

BY ALFONSO CHARDY

[e-mail]


Heber Siri, a Uruguayan immigrant in South Florida, will become an American citizen later this month. And as soon as the ceremony is over, he will register to vote.

''That's why I'm becoming a citizen,'' Siri, who works at a Coral Gables car dealership, said. ``I want to vote.''

Siri, 55, will be among the 9,000 new citizens who will recite the oath of allegiance in two large naturalization ceremonies Aug. 10 and 11 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Nationwide, more than 40,000 immigrants are expected to become new Americans in August.

They're part of a surge of immigrants in South Florida and across the United States who plan to become citizens in coming weeks -- many of them driven by the desire to be eligible to vote in time for the presidential election.
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