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TN has one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the U.S.

Immigrants in Middle Tennessee aspiring to be citizens received pro bono assistance from immigration lawyers and public defenders as they began the naturalization process on Saturday. Immigrants in Middle Tennessee aspiring to be citizens received pro bono assistance from immigration lawyers and public defenders as they began the naturalization process on Saturday.

By The Tennessean September 21, 2015 1 min read

Tennessee has one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the country, according to Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

Already, more than 114,000, or nearly 38 percent of the total foreign-born population, are naturalized citizens and eligible to vote, she says. Statewide another approximately 75,000 immigrants are eligible to apply for citizenship today but haven’t taken action.

Leticia de la Paz’s family has two major motivations for pursuing U.S. citizenship.

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