Over the past years, there has been a high rate of citizenship among immigrants to the United States. The main drivers for this rise would appear to be a mix of adjustments in immigration policies, the pursuit of economic opportunity, and the need for stability and security. Most immigrants consider U.S. citizenship as the proper step toward securing one's future in the country, more so amidst political uncertainty and changing laws.
In addition to this, the primary driving forces behind naturalization entail a sense of security and protection of rights which include those to be enjoyed as a result of U.S. citizenship. Most immigrants, especially from countries that are both politically and economically unstable, treat American citizenship as insurance against deportation. Citizenship gives them peace of mind in the sense that they and their families will be able to stay legally in the United States without worrying about being sent home. That sense of security assumes added importance in the present atmosphere, with almost every act of immigration law enforcement becoming increasingly repressive.
It is in this light that economic factors may also act as incentives toward attaining citizenship for immigrants. Basically, after naturalization, citizens normally gain access to better working conditions, more education facilities, and access to financial services that are seldom available to non-citizens. This means one can construct more stable and fruitful lives and be fully able to integrate into American society. To many, the financial rewards of citizenship are real motivation enough to navigate the complex, at times expensive process of naturalization.
The path of naturalization, however, is not devoid of problems. Immigrants face a complicated legal system, high application fees, and long lines. Despite these, the ever-increasing number of naturalizations tells how immigrants strive to rise above all such odds to be able to taste the fruit of benefits associated with citizenship. Although the process is grueling, it appears like a necessary step for those who intend to embrace life in the United States wholeheartedly and ensure their future security.
The choice to become a U.S. citizen also reflects a more general change in attitude within the immigrant population regarding permanency in the country. While some immigrants have purposefully entered the U.S. with the expressed intent of returning, ever-increasing numbers are now making the U.S. their home on a permanent basis. Such a shift, therefore, is influenced by the insatiable desire for political and economic stability, reunion with family members, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
The more immigrants who become citizens, the greater the likelihood of their becoming integrated into American society and its political scene. Naturalized citizenship provides individuals with voting privileges, allowing one a say in public policy. The result of this demographic change could affect future elections and the course of immigration reform. The increasing rates of naturalization demonstrate how the identity of the United States is being reshaped by a nation of immigrants who come to help build and grow this nation.
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