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More Immigrants Seek Citizenship
Surge follows
debates,
protests
(AP) — Efforts by Congress
and local governments to crack
down on illegal immigration - and
the protests that followed those
efforts - have produced a surge of
interest in learning how to be­
come a U.S. citizen.
More of the nation’s 8 million
legal immigrants are showing up
at citizenship classes and semi­
nars sponsored by churches and
community groups.
"I didn’t think it was important
before, but now 1 think it’s very
important to be acitizen,” Leonida
Santana said during a break in a
Saturday morning class discus­
sion about the separation of pow­
ers among Congress, the presi­
dent and the courts.
Santana, a Dominican Repub­
lic native, arrived in the United
States in 1983 and a year later
secured a green card, signifying
permanent legal residency. She
signed up for the 10 weeks of
citizenship preparation classes
after the House last year passed a
bill that would deport illegal immi­
grants as felons and erect 7(X)
miles of fencing along the U.S.-
Mexico border.
“We are not criminals,” she
said, explaining that she decided
to apply for citizenship because
she now wants to vote.
Alfonso Aguilar, director of the
Homeland Security Department's
Office of Citizenship, said current
events - most recently the 2(X)I
terrorist attacks - have triggered
naturalization surges in the past.
Legal permanent residents have
the right to live and work in the
United States and are protected
by state and federal laws. They
are eligible for some federal ben­
efits. But they still can be de­
ported if they commit certain
crimes and cannot vote in federal
and most state and local elections.
The Mexican pop-rock group RBD comes to the Rose Garden on Friday, May 5.
‘RBD’ to Rock Rose Garden
M e x ic a n p o p -ro c k m u sic adults alike, spurring the creation
group RBD comes to the Rose o f the band, which has had w ide­
Garden Friday, May 5 at 8:30 spread success.
The band arrives with its first
p.m., as part of their North A m eri­
concert tour in the United States
can Tour "G eneracion RBD.”
RBD grew popular from a that will cover m ore than 30
p rim e -tim e te le n o v e la on cities. They have released three
Univision called “Rebelde” (hence a lb u m s to d a te in c lu d in g
the name). The show has be­ “ R e b e ld e ,” “ En V iv o ,” and
com e am azingly popular among “N uestro A m or” that were all
Latin Am erican teenagers and released in 2005.
Tw o o f R B D ’s album s have
p la c e d on th e to p fiv e o f
Billboard’sT op Latin Album chart
since the beginning o f the year.
They have sold more than 2 m il­
lion albums w orldw ide, and have
sold out co n certs throughout
South and Central America.
Tickets are avai lable at the Rose
Q uarter Box O ffice and partici­
pating Safeway outlets.
Soliders Torn by Immigration Debate
Loyalties clash
for Latinos in
military
(AP)— Marcial Rodriguez, a U.S.
Marine who grew up in a Mexican
fanning village, is offended that the
country he went to war for might
deport his relatives who are living
here illegally.
Three months after the lance
corporal returned to Ohio from the
fighting in Iraq, the U.S. House
adopted a bill that would make
Rodriguez's cousin a felon for be­
ing one of the nation’s 11 million
illegal immigrants.
Rodriguez, 20, said he enlisted in
the Marine reserves to repay the
debt he felt owed to a country that Ernesto Rodriguez stands with a picture of his son, Marine
had given him an education and a Lance CpI. Marcial Rodriguez, at his home in Painesville, Ohio.
The younger Rodriguez is offended that the country he went to
home for his family.
“People from many different war for might deport his relatives living in the U.S. (AP photo)
countries are fighting, not just from
Rodriguezenlisted in 2(X)4 after near the Syrian border. He barely
Mexico,” he said. “We want to par­ graduating from high school in escaped death when three friends
ticipate in this country.”
Painesville,Ohio. Nine months later, of his were killed by a roadside
It is unclear how many soldiers he was combing Iraq forinsurgents bomb last June.
find their loyalties sim ilarly d i­
vided, but at a time when the
Pentagon has stepped up recruit­
ing of Hispanics to fill recruiting
quotas, experts say a crackdow n
Qhapd of the
on illegal im m igration would un­
doubtedly cause resentm ent in
Caring fo r People - Making a Difference
the ranks.
“How do you tell them we’re
urial and remation
going to deport their parents and
g ra n d p a re n ts? " asked H ector
There is a Difference in Funeral Homes
Flores, president of the League of
NE 2 Is' and Broadway 503-287-1155
United Latin American Citizens, a
group that has encouraged His­
panics who do not plan to attend
college to join the military. “That's
no, America."
Hispanics are increasingly join­
lhem e:
ing the military as their numbers
have grown, according to a 2(MX4
Jeremiah 29:11-13
study on Marine recruitment by
CNA Corp., a research firm in Ar­
lington, Va. Hispanics accounted
for 16.5 percent of Marine recruits
las, year, up from 13.4 percent in
2002 and 11.7 percent in 1997, the
firm said.
Soldiers and veterans have been
Dr. Jerome E. McNeil, Jr — Senior Pastor
a popular presence a, a wave of pro­
Christian Cathedral CME Church in Dallas. TX
immigrant rallies across the coun­
try in recent weeks,
5F Wednesday May 3"1 2006 & 7:00pm
"They stick out like a sore
thumb," Medina said. “When (dem­
4F Thursday May 4"' 2006 (s> 7:00pm
onstrators) see people in uniform, it
V Friday May 5* 2006 @ 7:30pm
gives them tremendous pride and
For more information contact:
validates that we are contributing
Allen Temple CME Church, 4 2 36 NE S'* Ave. Portland. Oregon 97 2 1 1
to this country."
A legal permanent resident who encing heavy downloads of immi­
has lived in the country at least five gration forms, including 162,000
years is eligible to take required naturalization forms, said spokes­
English, civics and history exams man Christopher Bentley.
to become an American. If the resi­
Nemecio Cotoc, 32, who tied a
dent is married toa U.S. citizen, the civil war in Guatemala and eventu­
wait is three years.
ally became a legal resident, said he
Applications for naturalization will never forget that he was once
have increased since December, undocumented.
when the House bill was approved.
“We can't elect a Hispanic presi­
The Homeland Security Depart­ dent, but if we can become citizens
ment received 53,390 applications we can defeat those who have a
for naturalization in January, 23 mind-set against us,” Cotoc said.
percent more than the same month "Really, what we want to do and
a year earlier. In February, that num­ look for is to work and maintain a
ber rose to 57,056.
grxxl life and grow and pay our
The department’s Citizenship taxes on all we buy, like a house,
and Immigration Services isexperi- food and other things."
Wally Tesfa
Residential and
Commercial Broker
Oregon/Washmgton
503-2677586 cell
503-249-1903 office
503-249-6527 fax
wtesfa1@comcast.net
PROPERTIES.
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Leonida Santana and Nemecio Cotoc attend a citizenship class
in Washington, D.C. (AP photo)
TEAM athletics
C
Saturday, May 13th, 2006
Admission: $3 Adults • $ 1 for 16 and under • 12 and under free
Allen Temple CME Church
location :
Self-Enhancement Inc (SEI)
3920 N. Kirby Avenue, Portland, OR 97227
Spring Revival
God’s Purpose”
Main Attraction:
Cory Cougars vs
Jammin’ 95.5 Nike Big Bailers
Guest
Evangelist
Phone 503-287-0261
8th Grade Showdown:
Portland Disciples takes on Showtime
Proceeds benefits the amateur athletics and education program.
For more information call
Mark Washington at 503-288-0033
emaiI tnarkw@portlandobscrver.com
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