Illinois professor’s book explores contradictions in U.S. naturalization

Illinois professor analyzes contradictions in U.S. naturalization

Siobhan Somerville’s book traces how U.S. naturalization has enforced racial, sexual and colonial hierarchies, complicating feel-good narratives of citizenship.

Illinois professor’s book explores contradictions in U.S. naturalization

Naturalization is commonly portrayed as the final, celebratory step in an immigrant’s journey toward U.S. citizenship. It is often associated with courtroom ceremonies, raised hands and pledges of allegiance—a formal moment when an individual is said to enter the nation and gain access to its rights and protections. But a new book by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scholar Siobhan Somerville argues that the history of naturalization is f…