A Profile of the Citizenship Process among Hispanics in the United States 1

Abstract

This article reports on an ethnographic investigation of the naturalization experiences of 38 recently naturalized Hispanics. In addition to examining the formal and informal steps taken by these applicants to learn about citizenship and the naturalization process, the article focuses on how the decision to naturalize fits into the larger life histories of these applicants. Naturalization is presented as the holistic outcome of isolated factors such as jobs or length of time in the United States. The author finds that the most important factor influencing the naturalization decision is the unraveling of the mysteries surrounding the citizenship process.