Naturalization. Among all adult immigrants in the US five years or more in 1997, 53 percent had become US citizens, up sharply from 38 percent in 1993, but down from a peak 63 percent in 1965. Naturalization rates increase with time in the US and educationa€”California and Texas have among the lowest naturalization ratesa€”42 to 43 percenta€”reflecting the relatively high proportion of Mexicans among immigrants, and the fact that many immigrants in these states are married to non-US citizens.
What amount of naturalization software decrease from 420,000 in summer 1998 so you’re able to 290,000 during the summer 1999, and you may Meissner predicted one to, from the summer 2000, brand new waiting ranging from application and you can interviews can be as a result of new Ins goal of 6 months.
Immigrant supporters asserted that the Inches is actually progressing for the eliminating the fresh new backlog, but complained there has been a-sharp increase in the newest amount of naturalization applications refused. In the La, ninety,000 naturalization apps was in fact refused in the 1st 7 months out-of 1999 therefore the denial speed thus jumped from half dozen % to help you 40 %. The new Inches then rejects those apps.