ABSTRACT
Naturalization is an important mode through which an individual acquires citizenship, which confers on that individual the civil liberties and other rights enjoyed by a country's native-born citizens. The process of naturalization and the rights of naturalized citizens raise several civil liberties issues. The criteria and procedures for naturalization reflect choices the nation has made regarding the desired character of new citizens, their terms of allegiance, and the future shape of their populations. The rules governing naturalization vary widely among nations, but all recognize these rules as important tools of inclusion and exclusion. The enactment of the basic Naturalization Act of June 29, 1906, created for the first time a centralized federal agency charged with the responsibility of enforcing the naturalization statutes. The Court has generally extended the rights and protections of the Constitution to long-term permanent residents as integrated members of the population.
