About 1,200 to take Ike-delayed citizenship oaths

HOUSTON (AP) - About 1,200 immigrants in the Houston area whose naturalization ceremonies were delayed by Hurricane Ike will take their citizenship oaths Saturday.

That's just in time to register to vote in the November elections.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials originally said hurricane damage to their office would make it impossible to issue citizenship oaths until October 29, which is well after the Monday deadline for voter registration. But they were able to enter the damaged portion of their building and get the paperwork needed to contact the scheduled applicants.

The change came as pressure built from immigration advocates, attorneys, U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Hughes and U.S. Rep. Gene Greene, all of whom pushed for an emergency ceremony.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)