Posted on 03/19/2003 1:46:06 PM PST by Hoppean
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Maria Sanchez was proud to become a U.S. citizen in 1985, but it didn't completely erase the sense of loss she felt over having to give up her Mexican citizenship.
``I didn't feel I was a traitor by becoming American, but I was leaving a part of my life,'' the 47-year-old homecare provider recalled.
Sanchez, a native of the border town of Tecate, stood in line this week outside the Mexican Consulate with hundreds of others seeking to reclaim their Mexican nationality rights by a Thursday deadline and become dual U.S.-Mexican citizens.
``I feel good,'' she said. ``I'll feel like I belong there again.''
In March 1998, Mexican legislation took effect allowing Mexican-born citizens of other countries to reclaim rights that had been automatically renounced when they took on their new citizenship. The law also applied to anyone born outside Mexico, but whose mother or father was born in Mexico.
That law was good only for five years. A proposal to make the legislation permanent is being considered by Mexico's Congress but, just in case this is their last opportunity, Mexican-Americans across the country have rushed to turn in documents proving their heritage.
It doesn't affect their citizenship in this country. People who become citizens of other countries do not lose their U.S. citizenship unless they specifically renounce it.
In San Diego, requests for dual citizenship soared in recent weeks from about 25 a day to more than 400. Consulate workers set up desks outside under tents to attend to the crowd.
Similar numbers were seen in Chicago, where applicants have been lining up in the cold this week at 5 a.m. Applications also swelled from perhaps a dozen a month to dozens a day at consulates in Oregon, Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, New York and Massachusetts.
``They want to be Mexicans because they feel that it's part of them, even if they've been here all their lives,'' said Carlos Yescas of the Boston consulate office.
Dual citizenship also has tangible benefits: the ability to own property anywhere in Mexico, and legal status to live and work there with rights equal to those of any other citizen. The only restriction is that they cannot vote or hold political office.
Before 1998, many Mexicans were reluctant to became U.S. citizens because they feared losing real estate, inheritances or businesses in Mexico.
Census figures show about 7.8 million people who were born in Mexico lived in the United States in 2000. Of those, 1.6 million had become U.S. citizens. Overall, 21.7 million people were either from Mexico or of Mexican heritage - about two-thirds of the nation's 32.8 million Hispanics.
According to Mexico's Foreign Relations ministry, more than 30,000 people have completed the dual nationality process in the last three years. Figures for the first two years were not available.
The first U.S. citizen to receive Mexico's dual nationality status in 1998 was Enrique Morones, a San Diego native who runs a Hispanic marketing firm and hosts a daily radio show on Latino issues.
``I did it because I'm a Mexican and I'm proud of being a Mexican. ... But that doesn't mean I don't care for the United States,'' he said. ``I love both countries.''
In the line outside the San Diego consulate Tuesday, Los Angeles native Paul Rangel said he hopes dual citizenship will open business opportunities and allow him someday to buy property in Cancun.
``Patriotically, I consider myself a U.S. citizen, yet I'm also by blood somewhat a Mexican citizen,'' said Rangel, 23, a bank employee whose parents were born in northern Mexico.
Sanchez, the homecare provider who lives in El Cajon, said reclaiming her Mexican identity would correct a feeling she's ``from nowhere.''
Friends and relatives in Mexico have often told her ``Oh, you're not from here or there,'' she said. ``This way, I'm from both.''
On the Net:
Mexico's Foreign Relations ministry: http://www.sre.gob.mx/
03/19/03 15:19
.Oh you bet!
Unregistered aliens flocked right over to the census taker. The rush to identify themselves was almost patriotic!
In this, I am not picking out the Mexicans in this article. The same remarks would apply to all--including such prominent folk as the Aussie press tycoon. Second only to dealing with the problem of mass immigration by persons incongrous to the American mainstream, we need to reevaluate the whole concept of citizenship.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
No ---they love US money too much for that.
The Oath of Citizenship
I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God. In acknowledgement whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.
Those who are chasing around trying to get dual citizenship with any country should be stripped of their U.S. citizenship. In the case of hostile countries like Mexico, they ought to be deported immediately.
No. Under no circumstances should an American be allowed to hold dual citizenship without renouncing U.S. citizenship, especially if Mexico is involved.
Even if they understand what that means, they have no intentions of living by those words.
I had 2 appointments last week: driver's license renewal and dental. I was shocked to see that both waiting rooms were literally filled with Hispanic people-- not a "normal" thing around here. On top of this is the fact that children of illegal immigrants are allowed to attend our schools at our expense. We are paying for special tutors and programs to teach these children English and help them feel more "at home"...resulting in budget cuts that affect children who are American citizens, in ways such as their daily milk program being discontinued, too many students per teacher, "special needs" students receiving more of the teachers' personal attention, and much more...
Given the reconquista mode the Mexicans are in, you can bet the farm this legislation will be made permanent.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.