Boston Red Sox baseball player David Ortiz was sworn in as an American citizen on June 11 in a ceremony with 220 other immigrants.  Ortiz has played for the Red Sox since 2003, helping them win two world series championships in 2004 and 2007. 

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All four of this year’s Oscar winners in the acting and supporting acting categories were foreign-born: Daniel Day-Lewis, Javier Bardem, Marion Cotillard and Tilda Swinton.

Other foreign-born nominees in these categories included Tom Wilkinson, Cate Blanchett, Julie Christie and Ellen Page.

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Minnesota Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano had a delay in obtaining his work visa due to a Florida drunken-driving plea.  Liriano was arrested in March 2006 and through an attorney pleaded no contest in January 2007 in Lee County, Fla., to a misdemeanor first-offense DUI charge. He was sentenced to six months probation and 50 hours of community service -- which he bought out for $10 per hour. He also had his driver's license suspended for six months and paid $650 in fines and costs.

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British singer Amy Winehouse, who was nominated for six Grammy Awards, was unable to attend the ceremony, where she was also scheduled to perform, since she was unable to secure her visa in time.

Ms. Winehouse’s original visa application was denied because of her use of illegal substances.  She appealed the decision, and when the denial was reversed, US embassy staff in London rushed to approve the visa.  However, the approval came through too late for the singer to make arrangements to attend the Grammy’s in Los Angeles.  Instead, the singer performed via live telecast.  She won in the categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal Album.

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