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Chapter 1 – Section 2
Who Are America’s Citizens
FEMALE SPEAKER: I hereby declare.
MALE SPEAKER: In Texas stadium 10,000 hands rose to a single oath from every corner of the world they came to swear allegiance to the United States, to become citizens. Never had there been so many, this year alone will triple the record.
FEMALE SPEAKER: We have received about a million applications this year, million applications the year before. We expect about a million more applications next year.
MALE SPEAKER: Angie Gerola is one in the million. She came from Mexico at age 12 for an education granted amnesty in 1986 she became a Dallas police officer, today she traded her resident alien green card for citizenship.
FEMALE SPEAKER: I am a U.S. citizen now, any opportunity that arrives you can apply for it and you can compete.
MALE SPEAKER: One reason for the surge, nearly 3 million immigrants granted amnesty in the 80s are just now eligible to become citizens, but perhaps the most important reason for the rush to citizenship is now often hostile debate in Washington across the country immigrants hear of possible losses of benefits or education opportunities and wonder what could be next?
MALE SPEAKER: Congressman Elton Gallegly wrote part of the new immigration bill.
MALE SPEAKER: If there is no longer a reason access to jobs access to public health care, public education, public housing and so on and so forth there will be no longer a reason to come.
MALE SPEAKER: That might have stopped Angie Gerola, but today after fourteen years in this country she arrived in America.
FEMALE SPEAKER: So help me God.
MALE SPEAKER: It’s a surge that may only be beginning; 7 million more are eligible to apply.
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