Some sue for citizenship: Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, authorities have become so rigorous in screening immigrants that citizenship applications often are delayed.

Byline: Alfonso Chardy

Dec. 20--Nancy Fernandez, a Cuban seeking U.S. citizenship, expected to swear allegiance to the United States within months of filing her paperwork. But three years went by and no one could explain why her case was taking longer than the usual six months.

Fernandez, 63, sued and within weeks her citizenship was approved -- among a growing number who are turning to the courts to expedite their citizenship or green-card requests. On Tuesday, she was among 6,000 new citizens sworn in at the Miami Beach Convention Center by Emilio Gonzalez, head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

"I would say that 95 percent of the cases in which we have filed a federal lawsuit got a swearing-in notice," said Eduardo Soto, Fernandez's Coral Gables immigration attorney.

Immigration attorneys Mazen Sukkar in Hollywood and Stephen Bander in Miami are among several South Florida lawyers, including Soto, offering the niche service: suing for immigration documents.

Sukkar said he has filed 15 such suits in the past six months, and that in the vast majority of cases, his clients have received citizenship or green cards.

One of Sukkar's clients, a Middle Eastern professional, applied for citizenship four years ago, but it was only after he sued in November that immigration authorities scheduled him for naturalization in January.