New naturalized citizens increasing in SA, around nation

Nearly 200 people took their citizenship oaths Thursday in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO – Nearly 200 of America’s newest citizens who swore their allegiance Thursday are part of a dramatic jump in naturalizations in San Antonio and the rest of the nation.

San Antonio went from 11,600 citizens being naturalized in 2016 to 15,300 last year, according to Arwen Fitzgerald, local spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

In a statement, Michael Bars, the national USCIS spokesman, said applications began to double under President Barack Obama, from 291,800 in September 2010 to nearly 700,000 at the start of 2017.

Bars also said USCIS is now on track to complete at least 829,000 applications during the 2018 fiscal year. He said the agency is “potentially exceeding a five-year high in the number of applications processed.”

Bars said this week alone, USCIS conducted 240 naturalization ceremonies for 42,821 citizens.

“Each year, USCIS consistently welcomes approximately 700,000 to 780,000 new citizens in ceremonies across the United States and around the world," he said.

Despite criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, Sholeh Zendehdel, originally from Iran, said she has felt welcomed here.

“Yes, I feel like this is my country,” she said.

Becoming a naturalized citizen takes time and money.

“It’s the process, going by the books. It takes a while, but it’s worth it,” said Carlos Martin, who came from El Salvador.

The following are the adjudications and approval rates over the most recent quarters of the previous and current administrations:

  • Total adjudications last five quarters of the previous administration - 970,129

  • Total adjudications first five quarters of current administration - 1,052,802

  • Average approval rate last five quarters of the previous administration - 89.2 percent

  • Average approval rate first five quarters of current administration - 89.8 percent

To find a local USCIS office, click here


About the Author:

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.