1M New Citizens Break Century Record

Fee increase helps immigration service clear huge backlog
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 7, 2008 3:49 AM CST
1M New Citizens Break Century Record
An Immigration and Naturalization service is held at Comerica Park to swear in 100 individuals, including Detroit Tigers' Placido Polanco, as citizens, last summer in Detroit.   (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Over a million new American citizens took the oath of allegiance last year—the highest number since the government began keeping records a century ago, reports CNN. The number of people going through the naturalization process has been steadily climbing for decades. The clearing of a major 2007 backlog—along with a push by Hispanic media for citizenship for eligible residents—helped boost the numbers.
(More USA stories.)

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