Minnesota Sees Jump In Naturalization Applications
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- The presidential campaign trail has been filled with tough talk this year. Some of the strongest language has centered on immigration.
That talk may be having an impact on people wanting to become new citizens.
Government officials say they've seen a surge in the number of people applying for naturalization in Minnesota. It's up 12 percent when you compare the first few months of this year to last year.
Nationally, it's up 13 percent.
"In doing our outreach and our educational presentations, people have shared their concerns with some of what's being talked about in the election," said Kathleen Klos of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.
The center offers free legal services to people who are applying for U.S. citizenship.
"We have had some callers that have said, 'I want to be able to vote in the election this fall,'" Klos said, "and asked if that was possible, if they could still do that. So we know that's on the mind of people."
Attorneys say they can't point to just one reason for the increase in naturalization applications, but they're certain that anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric doesn't help.
They've taken note of Donald Trump's call to build a wall along the Mexican border and to temporarily ban Muslim immigrants to the U.S.
"I think he is not ready to be a president," said Felipe Samamiego of St. Paul.
Samamiego says he became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
WCCO talked to him on the west side of St. Paul, where many families of Mexican descent live.
"I don't want to see this country in a civil war like we saw before because of somebody saying we are not good," Samamiego said.
"If they see themselves portrayed only negatively in these stereotypes that keep getting perpetuated, it's got to be incredibly frustrating," Klos said.
Klos said one of the difficulties for many immigrants is the application fee in the citizenship process. It's $685.
In order to become eligible you must be 18 years of age, demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government and you must be able to read, write and speak basic English -- unless you qualify for an exemption.
Some other states saw an increase in applications as well. Massachusetts saw a big jump -- a 30 percent increase when you compare the number of immigrants who applied in the first quarter of this year to last year.
From January to March, they had 8,000 people begin the process, many of them the citing a desire to vote in the presidential election.