Terminally Ill Man Now an American

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ A man terminally ill with cancer is now an American — thanks to the oath of citizenship administered in a special ceremony at his Austin home.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel did the honors yesterday for 59-year-old Manuel Lara Lopez.

Lara is from Mexico but has been a legal U.S. resident for the past two decades.

Citizenship officials on Tuesday had administered the test at Lara’s home and he passed.

Lara says getting to become an American is an early Christmas present.

Doctors say he suffers from advanced intestinal cancer.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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