More immigrants are getting their citizenship lately. So they can vote

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-immigcit11.html

Even some with green cards feel anxious

Chicago's immigrants with green cards have legal, permanent residency, which means they don't worry about getting deported every time they see a police car.

No matter. They're calling immigration lawyers, downloading citizenship applications and attending workshops to press to become American citizens.

The volatile immigration debate has kept Plainfield resident Alie Kabba's phone ringing with calls from all over the United States from other former residents of Sierra Leone. "People feel there is a real need to be sure of their status, even though they came in as refugees and acquired green cards," said Kabba, president of the Sierra Leone Community Association of Chicago. "We have seen more attendance at the workshops, and also calls from individuals in the community asking for clarification about status and asking for updates."

Because many people from Sierra Leone were granted asylum after a bloody civil war, "their status was safe in their minds," Abba said. But with the so-called Sensenbrenner Bill, Abba has received calls from Sierra Leoneans living in Illinois, Georgia, Maryland and Virginia. "They call up here to see what is going on," he said. snip

Mexican and Polish green-card holders are phoning the office of U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.). Citizenship would make the country's estimated 5 million legal, permanent residents a force, he said: "Long-term, politicians are only going to respect and respond to those who actually can vote."

[YOY]

1. Polish?

Seriously Polish? My wife is an immigrant from Eastern Europe. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to illegally immigrate from Eastern Europe and remain in a large community?



Besides life in Poland really isn't that bad these days...



Give me a break.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Didn't read the article?

It isn't about illegal immigrants. Its about legal immigrants with permanent residency who have not went on to become US citizens for one reason or another. They see the writing on the wall and are getting their US citizenship and with that the right to vote.

Don

[YOY]

3. My bad...n/t