8,290 Guyanese became US citizens in 2008

Apr 03, 2009 News

Last year, 131,935 first generation Caribbean migrants took the oath that made them citizens of the United States of America. This number represents an increase of almost 200 over 2007.
While most of these migrants were from the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, there were 8,290 Guyanese persons who were naturalized in the United States, last year. Compared to the 5,631 naturalizations for 2007, there was an increase of almost 150 percent.

Meanwhile, Jamaica topped the list for the highest number of naturalizations, in the English speaking Caribbean with 21,243 naturalizations last year. In 2007, there were 12,314.
The state of California was the home to the largest percentage (29 percent) of persons who were naturalized, followed by Florida (12 percent) and New York (8.7 percent).
US officials said that the number of persons naturalized in the United States increased 58 percent from 660,477 in 2007 to an all-time record of 1,046,539 in 2008.

Naturalization is the process by which US citizenship is conferred upon foreign citizens or nationals after fulfilling the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act. After naturalization, foreign-born citizens enjoy nearly all the same benefits, rights and responsibilities that the Constitution gives to native-born US citizens, including the right to vote.
(ncmonline.com)