If all Florida immigrants were surveyed as to why the came to the United States to live, there would surely be a wide range of answers. Even so, many immigrants share similar concerns about citizenship, visas and deportation proceedings. It’s fair to say that most worry about their legal statuses at some point.
Those understandable concerns have increased for many immigrants in the United States over the last year. While applications for citizenship are up, so too are immigrant arrests. One 49-year-old man has had a green card for years. Concerned that he might still be targeted for deportation, he decided to become a naturalized citizen.
To be eligible to apply for citizenship, a person must have already been living in the United States under a valid green card or other form of lawful residence for at least five years. More than eight million people are currently eligible for naturalization throughout the nation. Citizenship and Immigration Services has apparently had to hire additional workers to cover the backlog created by the onslaught of new citizenship applications.
Some Florida immigrants may wonder what the point of seeking citizenship if they already have permanent residency or a green card. Although each person’s reasons for becoming a citizen varies, many might say that the fact that permanent residency can be revoked and those holding green cards can still be deported in certain circumstances is a driving force. Anyone in need of legal guidance regarding a particular issue may request a meeting with an experienced immigration attorney.
Source: The New York Times, “Citizenship Applications in the U.S. Surge as Immigration Talk Toughens“, Miriam Jordan, Oct. 27, 2017
