Nearly 100 immigrants became naturalized citizens at an event held today on the front lawn of The Hermitage as part of a national celebration of “Citizenship Day.”
Three naturalization ceremonies occur in Nashville each month. There a federal judge issues the United States oath to anywhere from 60 to 120 immigrants who have completed the testing and paperwork and are proficient in the English language.
Yuri Cunza is the president of the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The native of Peru became a U-S citizen today, and says the typical undocumented, Hispanic immigrant can’t even begin the process. Cunza says even if a low-wage immigrant can get a green card, passing the exams takes reading and writing skills that many don’t have.
“It’s impossible for the type of Hispanic immigrant in the country to come here legally. It’s impossible. The visas are allocated to a certain type of individuals that can come and visit and spend dollars in the country. Education and background and economic status is necessary to qualify for that, and the population whose future is at stake right now, the undocumented population, they will never be able to qualify.”
Cunza says for him the naturalization process took about six months, but he admits the paperwork and testing could easily take much longer – especially for an immigrant with little formal education.
A 2003 survey estimates that more than half of the foreign-born citizens in Nashville hale from Latin America – mostly Mexico. At today’s ceremony, about 10-percent were from Central and South America, and only three from Mexico.
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