HispanicBusiness

Students at the University of Texas at El Paso have prepared a naturalization guide in Spanish for elderly people to help them study for the citizenship exam.

The students presented the new multi-part guide, "A Guide to Naturalization in Spanish" and "Preparing for Naturalization," recently at UTEP's Undergraduate Learning Center.

More than a dozen students worked on the guide, which is expected to help meet the needs of a growing number of older Hispanics applying for U.S. citizenship.

University officials said the new guide came about after the Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services Inc. asked Irasema Coronado, a political science professor at UTEP, for help in finding materials in Spanish for the exam.

Coronado, who at the time was teaching an American government class in Spanish, said she saw it as an opportunity to have the class compile a study guide while learning about American government.

Naturalization is the process by which immigrants become U.S. citizens, and certain older immigrants can opt to take the citizenship exam in Spanish.

To be eligible for the Spanish option, applicants must be at least 55 years old and must have been permanent legal residents for at least 15 years.

Also eligible are applicants who are 50 years old and have been permanent legal residents for at least 20 years. The age and years of residency must total at least 70.

The guide in Spanish will be available soon on the UTEP Political Science and Center for Civic Engagement websites.