Article: 10,960 become U.S. citizens in ceremony in San Jose.(Originated from Knight-Ridder Newspapers)

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ At a time when many Americans are just tuning into this year's electoral campaigns, a record 10,960 local immigrants became U.S. citizens Wednesday _ many motivated by political events.

For many of those naturalized in a makeshift ``court'' beneath the Sharks jaws and advertisements of the San Jose Arena, the largest area ceremony ever, there was one overriding reason to seek citizenship.

``I want to vote,'' said Dominique Dinh, 26, a San Jose State University student originally from Vietnam.

A string of such ceremonies throughout the country will usher in an all-time high number of new citizens in the year ending this month _ as ...

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