CitizenshipImmigration, Naturalization

What is a citizen?• A citizen is a participating member of a community• Citizenship was not described in the original Constitution

14th Amendment:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside…”

What is a citizen?• A citizen is a participating member of a

community• Citizenship was not described in the

original Constitution

• Citizens are guaranteed “equal protection of the laws”• The Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment apply to all people living in the United States• Citizens, however, have special rights, such as the right to vote and to hold public office

Who is a citizen?•“Birthright” Citizens• Persons born in the United

States or persons whose parents are United States citizens

•Naturalized Citizens• Persons who have completed

the naturalization process

Requirements to become a citizen:•Be at least 18 years old and a permanent resident•Have lived lawfully in the US for 5 years before filing an application•No serious criminal convictions•Be able to read, write, speak, and understand simple words in English•Understand the fundamentals of US history and government• Swear allegiance to the United States of America

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Naturalization process through history•1790 - Congress adopts uniform rules so that any free white person could apply for citizenship after two years of residency.

•1798 - Alien and Sedition Acts required 14 years of residency before citizenship and provided for the deportation of "dangerous" aliens. Changed to five-year residency in 1800.

Naturalization process through history•1857 - Dred Scott decision declared free Africans non-citizens.

• 1868 – 14th Amendment grants citizenship to “All persons born or naturalized in the United States”

Naturalization process through history•1892 - Ellis Island opened to screen immigrants entering on east coast.

• Immigration: the movement of people into a destination country to which they are not native or do not possess its citizenship in order to settle or reside there, especially as permanent residents or naturalized citizens, or to take-up employment as a migrant worker or temporarily as a foreign worker