Citizenship applicants fear delays imperil vote

For the 25 Hispanic immigrants taking a citizenship class Tuesday evening in downtown Houston, voting is a fundamental right they hope to gain.

The students, attending the nonprofit Houston International University inside a shopping center, answered enthusiastically as their instructor quizzed them on American history and civics topics they must know to pass a citizenship test.

The backlog has outraged community groups who assisted immigrants in Houston to sign up for citizenship in record numbers last year.