World | USA 1M New Citizens Break Century Record Fee increase helps immigration service clear huge backlog By Rob Quinn Posted Nov 7, 2008 3:49 AM CST Copied An Immigration and Naturalization service is held at Comerica Park to swear in 100 individuals, including Detroit Tigers' Placido Polanco, as citizens, last summer in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson) Over a million new American citizens took the oath of allegiance last year—the highest number since the government began keeping records a century ago, reports CNN. The number of people going through the naturalization process has been steadily climbing for decades. The clearing of a major 2007 backlog—along with a push by Hispanic media for citizenship for eligible residents—helped boost the numbers. Read These Next Colbert tells audience it's curtains for his Late Show. Rare cancer claims a former Super Bowl champ. A "horrific" incident killed 3 deputies in East Los Angeles. Sources say Trump's card to Epstein was signed in a strange place. Report an error