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LOS ANGELES — Record crowds of immigrants — more than 18,000 in all — took citizenship oaths here Thursday, a showing credited to rising fees, a heated debate over illegal immigration and a push by Spanish-language media to get out the vote.
The need for three separate ceremonies at the Los Angeles Convention Center — a local record for the number of people sworn in one day — reflected a 350 percent increase in citizenship applications last summer before immigration fees jumped from $400 to $675 on Aug. 1.
On top of that, Spanish-language media, including Univision and Telemundo, launched massive campaigns to get more immigrants to become citizens and vote.
