Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for January 31, 2018
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
January 31, 2018: Among the six million lawful Mexican immigrants eligible for U.S. citizenship, 42% have become naturalized U.S. citizens.[1]
The share of Mexican immigrants seeking citizenship is far lower than for immigrants from other countries. According to the Pew Research Center, 75% of non-Mexican immigrants have become naturalized U.S. citizens.
Pew research indicates several reasons lawful Mexican immigrants do not go through the naturalization process. The reasons include “a lack of English proficiency, limited interest in applying for citizenship and the financial cost of the application.” Pew adds that “close geographic proximity of origin countries to the U.S. may lower naturalization rates, in part because immigrants from countries near the U.S. are more likely to maintain strong ties to their countries of origin, increasing the likelihood that they move back to their home country without ever obtaining U.S. citizenship.”
To apply for citizenship, immigrants must be 18 or older, have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for five consecutive years, and meet certain residency requirements. Also, applicants must “be able to read, write, and speak English and have knowledge and an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics).” Finally, an individual applying for citizenship must “be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law.”[2]
During the period from 2005 to 2015, 8.5 million immigrants applied for citizenship. Nearly a million applications were denied (11% of the total).
At the end of 2015, there were 19.8 million naturalized citizens living in the United States, 11.9 million lawful immigrants, and 11.0 million illegal immigrants.[3]
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
- January 30, 2018 – 50 years ago today, the Tet Offensive began in Vietnam
- January 29, 2018 – 39 percent of Americans have strong religious affiliation, little changed since 1980s
- January 26, 2018 – 22,169 dollars: average state and local taxes paid by New Yorkers who itemize their deductions
- January 25, 2018 – 6.5 percent of private sector workers belong to a labor union
- January 24, 2018 – 780 Americans attending Davos World Economic Forum
- To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.
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Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "Naturalization rate among U.S. immigrants up since 2005, with India among the biggest gainers," January 18, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "Path to U.S. Citizenship," accessed January 30, 2018
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S.," April 27, 2017
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