The Advocates for Human Rights is pleased to involve your ...mrgoffgovernment.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/2/8/... · • Some immigrants come to fill positions where there is a shortage

Immigration 101

The Advocates for Human Rights is pleased

to involve your class or community group in a day to

learn about immigration to the United States.

© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008

Overview

• Ways to become a U.S. citizen

• Main categories of immigrants

• Ways to get a green card

• Process of naturalization

• Push-pull factors of immigration

• Ways to create a welcoming environment for immigrants

Terms to be Covered

• Asylee

• Citizen

• Green card

• Immigrant

• Lawful Permanent Resident

• Undocumented

• Naturalization

• Visa

• Non-immigrant

• Refugee

Why Is It Important to

Stay Informed About Immigration?

• To approach a front-page issue sensitively and with accuracy

• To create a more inclusive classroom

• To establish dialogue and connections between diverse groups

• To effectively advocate for immigrants and refugees in the community

• To encourage positive understanding about immigrants

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There Are Ways To Be a Citizen:

1. You are BORN in the U.S.

2. You are born to a U.S. citizen

parent or your parent became

a citizen before you turned 18

3. You are adopted by a U.S.

citizen (Child Citizenship Act

of 2000)

4. You are naturalized (more

about this process later)

Someone In the U.S.

Who is Not a Citizen is Either An

Immigrant

or a

Non-immigrant

Non-Immigrants

• Students

• Temporary workers

• Visitors

• Others who are in the U.S. temporarily, where their visas only allow them to stay for a limited amount of time.

Immigrants

Immigrants settle in a

country intending to stay

there permanently and

become citizens.

Two categories of

immigrants are:

1 - Lawful Permanent Residents

• Have permission to remain in the U.S. for as long as they choose, if they remain crime free.

• Must renew their green cardevery 10 years.

2 - Refugees / Asylees

Refugees and asylees leave their countries

because of war or fear of being killed or hurt

because of their nationality, race, religion,

political opinion or membership in a group.

What Is The Difference

Between a Refugee and an Asylee?

• A refugee receives permission to come to the U.S. from outside of the country.

• Refugees are resettled with the help of a refugee resettlement agency.

• An asylee is already in the

U.S. when s/he applies for

protection.

• Asylees have to prove that

they have reason to fear

persecution in their home

country.

World Refugee Survey (2008) 12

Iran: 3,900

Guatemala:

3,400

Vietnam:

3,400

Ethiopia:

3,200

Indonesia:

3,100

Ukraine: 3,100

Venezuela:

3,100

Country of Origin of

Refugees in the U.S. at the End of 2007

China:

16,800

Haiti: 12,300

Cuba:

11,700

Somalia:

11,600

Colombia:

8,200

Russia:

8,100

Liberia:

Total number of refugees in the U.S.

at the end of 2007: 151,200

India: 2,800

Nicaragua: 2,400

Myanmar: 2,200

Sudan: 2,200

Other: 42,800

U.S. Census (2003) 13

Region of Birth for All

Foreign-Born in the U.S. (including refugees)

Latin America: 17.5 mil.

Asia: 9.1 mil.

Europe: 4.8

mil.

Other: 2.1 mil.

Total foreign-born in U.S. as of

2003: 33.5 million (11.7% of

population)

Undocumented Immigrants

• May have entered the U.S. without showing a visa or green card.

• May be here with expired papers.

• Do not have documents that allow them to stay in the U.S.

Can anyone who wants to become a citizen become

one?

No, first somebody has to have a green

card.

Then how do you get a green card?

Here are the main ways to obtain a green card…

Only a few ways, and not everybody is eligible for one.

Becoming a U.S. Citizen

Family

• A majority of immigrants come to be reunited with family.

• U.S. citizen adults can sponsor their spouse, parent, child or sibling.

• Lawful Permanent Residentscan sponsor their spouse and any unmarried children.

A Note About Family Reunification - The WAIT

• The length of the wait will depend on:– Whether the sponsor

is a citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident

– What country the relative is from

– Type of relationship (ex: spouse comes sooner than a brother)

Example 1: A lawful permanent

resident who wants to bring her

husband and 2-year-old daughter

from Mexico will have to wait

approximately 5-6 years.

Example 2: A U.S. citizen who wants to

bring his brother from the Philippines will

have to wait approximately 23 years.

Employment

• Some immigrants come to fill positions where there is a shortage of U.S. workers (ex: nurses, computer engineers).

• Every year there are some visas that are given to professionals with advanced degrees and skilled workers. The employer must prove that they can’t find a worker domestically.

• There are very few visas offered to unskilled workers, though there are many businesses that have a shortage of these workers. Available jobs without available visas cause a rise in undocumented immigration.

Fleeing Persecution

• Some immigrants come as refugees fleeing persecution.

• The U.S. accepts refugees and asylees who are fleeing persecution based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, political opinion or membership in a social group.

Diversity Visa Lottery

• Each year, there is a green card lottery to welcome immigrants from countries from which the U.S. receives immigrants at lower rates.

• The applicant must have a high school diploma or have a specific ability/trade. Their immediate family can come too.

• There will be visas given out in the lottery.

• People from countries that have sent more than 50,000 people in the last 5 years are not eligible, including Mexico, El Salvador, China, the Philippines, England, India and other nations.

The chance of winning is:

Q: What Are Some of the

Ways You Can Obtain a Green Card?

(Click for the answers)

• Family

• Employment

• Fleeing persecution

• Diversity visa lottery

Lawful Permanent Residents

May Become U.S. Citizens

Eligible immigrants may

choose to go through the

process of

to become a U.S. citizen.

To Become a Naturalized Citizen, One Must:

• Have a green card for either 3 or 5 years based on your particular situation.

• Be physically present in the U.S. for 2.5 years.

• Pay an application fee of $675.

• Pass the citizenship test.

• Pass the interview in English.

• Swear to the judge you will follow the laws of the U.S.

• Be of good moral character (e.g., no serious crimes).

The Immigration Debate

• Immigration is a front-page news story.

• The debate centers around:– The present undocumented

population

– Future immigration flows

– The costs and benefits of immigration

– The cultural impact of immigration

– Family reunification

– Border security

– Knowing who’s within our borders

Push-Pull Factors of Immigration

“Push factors” are the reasons

compelling a migrant to leave

his/her home country.

“Pull factors” draw or

attract a person to his/her

destination.

Some Push Factors May Include:

• War

• Famine

• Natural disaster

• Unemployment

• Underemployment

• Persecution

• Economic hardship

• Lack of opportunity

• Poor education

• Civil unrest

• Employment opportunities

• Rejoining family

• Welcoming atmosphere

• Excellent schools

• Social services prepared for resettlement (e.g., churches, hospitals, schools, etc.)

• Want to join established immigrant community

Some Pull Factors May Include:

QUIZ TIME!

Q: What are Some of the Factors That

“Push” People Out of Their Countries of

Origin, and “Pull” Them to a Country of

Destination?

(Click for the answers)

Push Factors

• War

• Famine

• Natural disaster

• Unemployment

• Persecution

• Economic hardship

• Lack of opportunity

• Poor education

• Civil unrest

Pull Factors

• Employment opportunities

• Rejoining family

• Welcoming atmosphere

• Excellent schools

• Social services prepared for resettlement (e.g., churches, hospitals, schools, etc.)

• Want to join established immigrant community

Contributions of Immigrants

• Fill a labor need

• Pay taxes

• Add diversity

• Share new ideas

• Enrich the culture

• Offset an aging population

• Strengthen our global connections

• Write articles for your school or community newspaper about the immigration issue.

• Advocate by sending letters to legislators about current immigration issues.

• Reach out to refugees and immigrants in your local area.

• Befriend a newcomer at your school.

• Increase awareness of refugee and immigrant issues.

• Form a club in your school with others interested in these issues.

• Raise money, or do a food/clothing drive for a local or national organization that serves immigrants and refugees.

Ways to Create a

Welcoming Environment for Immigrants

For More Information,

Visit Energy of a Nation on the Web!

• Obtain accurate and up-to-date information.

• Learn about current legislation.

• Take action by contacting leaders and lawmakers.

• Participate in community events.

• Learn about the issues.

• Access reports and resources on state and national immigration.

All Free and Downloadable at: www.energyofanation.org!

© The Advocates for Human Rights 2008