Immigrants are filing citizenship applications at the highest rate in four years, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
“The number of legal permanent residents applying for U.S. citizenship in the nine months starting last October is at its highest level in four years, and it is up 8 percent from the same period before the 2012 elections,” according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.
From October 2015 to June 2016, 718,430 immigrants have applied for naturalization. That is a 26 percent one year increase, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Foes of Donald Trump have charged that his anti-illegal immigration position has fueled the surge, but the new Pew analysis shows that demands for citizenship have been much higher in past years.
Instead, it could be the result of Democratic efforts to push immigrants to get citizenship, and the right to vote.
“This election cycle, several groups — including the White House — have launched efforts to increase the number of naturalized immigrants as part of larger efforts to boost turnout among Latinos and other groups. Latinos and Asians have long favored Democratic presidential candidates in past elections,” said Pew
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
