Citizenship

Citizenship in the Spotlight: Courts Prepare to Rule on Texas Immigration Law

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AUSTIN, Texas – The enforcement of an immigration law in Texas is up for decision in the courts. Legal proceedings are currently underway to determine the fate of Senate Bill 4 (SB4), a highly controversial legislation that seeks to crack down on illegal immigration in the state. The law, which was signed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2017, grants local law enforcement the power to question the immigration status of individuals during routine interactions. Opponents of SB4 argue that it violates the constitutional rights of immigrants and leads to racial profiling. They assert that the … Read more

Indian Government Implements Controversial Citizenship Law Denying Rights to Muslims: Sparks Nationwide Protests

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SRINAGAR, India – The Indian government has announced the implementation of a controversial citizenship law that critics say stigmatizes Muslims and denies them the same rights given to other religious groups. The timing of this announcement, just months before national elections, is seen as a political calculation. The law, which was adopted by Parliament in December 2019 but never implemented, sparked a protest movement that lasted for three months and resulted in violent anti-Muslim attacks in north Delhi. On March 11, Home Minister Amit Shah announced that he was notifying the rules for implementing the … Read more

Federal Judge Upholds Arizona Law Requiring Voter Proof of U.S. Citizenship, Dismissing Discrimination Claims

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Phoenix, Arizona – A federal judge has ruled that a new voting law in Arizona, which requires voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, is not discriminatory. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton concluded that the state legislators did not discriminate when they adopted the voting laws and that the state has a legitimate interest in preventing voter fraud, according to The Associated Press. In her ruling, Judge Bolton stated that the court found Arizona’s interests in preventing non-citizens from voting and promoting public confidence in elections outweighed any burden that voters may face when providing … Read more

Germany Reforms Citizenship Law: Expected Surge in Naturalization Applications from Turkish Community

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Berlin, Germany – The recent citizenship law reform in Germany is expected to prompt a surge of naturalization applications from the Turkish community. According to the Turkish Community in Germany organization, approximately 50,000 individuals with Turkish heritage are projected to seek naturalization in the coming years. This follows the passage of a new law by Germany’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, which aims to streamline the citizenship process and facilitate dual nationality. Gökay Sofuoglu, the head of the Turkish Community in Germany, expressed confidence in the long-term impact of the new legislation. Sofuoglu believes … Read more