Naturalization Petitions Up

The LA Times reports that naturalization petittions are skyrocketing in Southern California and across the nation, as lawful permanent residents rush to avoid a proposed fee increase, a revised civics test and possible changes in immigration law. Applications filed in Los Angeles and six surrounding counties shot to 18,024 in January from 7,334 in the same month last year, a 146% increase, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Nationwide, the number hit 95,622, up from 53,390, a 79% increase. The jump — both locally and nationwide — is the largest in a decade, officials said. The numbers of applications first spiked last March with mass immigrant rights rallies and saw the most dramatic increase after the new year. Click here for the story.

It may also be that the immigrant activism that we saw last spring in connection with immigration reform is encouraging LPRs to naturzlize.  Recall that naturalization petitions increased dramatically in the 1990s after California voters passed Proposition 187.

KJ