Latino coalition begins citizenship campaign

Oct. 16, 2003, 1:13AM

Latino coalition begins citizenship campaign
Greater voice sought in 2004 election
By EDWARD HEGSTROM
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
A new coalition of local Latino groups wants to persuade legal immigrants to become U.S. citizens in time to vote in the 2004 presidential election.

Though the Houston Coalition for Immigrant Rights' initial goal is small -- they hope to file citizenship papers for 300 people at a workshop next week -- organizers see the movement growing.

"We believe the election next year is going to be very critical" in terms of immigration issues, said Adriana Cadena, with the Service Employees International Union, at a news conference Wednesday announcing the campaign.

Cadena noted that both Democrats and Republicans have wooed Latino voters in recent years. She asserted that President Bush will not win re-election unless he improves his numbers with Latino voters. In the 2000 race, Bush secured 35 percent of the Hispanic vote.

Many Latino immigrants stay in the United States for years with a green card, or permanent residency permit, which allows them to live and work legally, buy homes, and come and go as they choose.

Though the traditional next step after obtaining a green card is to become a U.S. citizen, some immigrants -- particularly Mexicans -- are reluctant to do so, Cadena said. (snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2160148