BRIEFS. immigration

Naturalization bill presented by te judges

LA PRENSA

home:Reforms are being considered to address the naturalization process that has left some people in a state of limbo.998018

Judges of the Tribunal Electoral (TE) presented a bill yesterday to the plenary of the Asamblea Nacional that updates the naturalization process.

The initiative arose, said Judge Gerardo Solís, by the fact that the Dirección de Registro Civil has identified about 1,500 fraudulent registrations, mainly involving people of Chinese origin.

"Citizenship is reserved for Panamanians born in the national territory or naturalized," Solís said.

TE Chairman Erasmo Pinilla said the initiative seeks to provide temporary immigration status to those people who are here illegally so that they can begin the naturalization process.

The law seeks to address potential human rights violations of people who have lived in Panama for numerous years without having legal status.

Panama has been criticized by international organizations for its naturalization process, which some say does not treat people fairly who have lived in the country for a number of years.

One example raised by the TE involves a person who has lived in Colón for most of his life, but who is not a citizen.