CitizenshipCitizenship

Who are we? What do we Who are we? What do we look like?look like?

Making a single nation out of such diverse people is difficult.

What is a citizen, and what does it take to become an American

citizen?

Citizenship

• Describes how government ought to treat residents and how those residents ought to act.

Citizenship by Family or Birth

• Anyone in the U.S. or

Puerto Rico, Guam (U.S. territories) automatically become citizens, even if the parents aren’t citizens

• This does not include children born to foreign diplomats serving in the U.S. or children born on foreign ships in U.S. waters.

BORN

• Child born outside the U.S., whose parents are U.S. citizens, are automatically a U.S. citizen

• Foreign born children become citizens if American citizens adopt them

U.S. is a Nation of Immigrants

• "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me. I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

NaturalizationNaturalization

The process of becoming a citizenThe process of becoming a citizen

Immigrants and CitizenshipImmigrants and Citizenship

Immigrants must first get permanent resident Immigrants must first get permanent resident VISAS VISAS YouTube - United States Citizenship ProcessYouTube - United States Citizenship Process– To qualify for citizenship:To qualify for citizenship:

Live in the U.S. for the required period of timeLive in the U.S. for the required period of timeThey can read, write and speak EnglishThey can read, write and speak EnglishBasic knowledge of American history and governmentBasic knowledge of American history and governmentGood moral characterGood moral characterThey have “attachments to the principles of the U.S. They have “attachments to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.”Constitution.”They support the U.S.They support the U.S.YouTube - Could you pass the new citizenship test?YouTube - Could you pass the new citizenship test?

• Immigrants who serve in the military can more easily gain

citizenship.

Nonimmigrants

• Many do not come as legal permanent

residents–Refugees–Temporary Residents–Illegal Immigrants

• REFUGEES

What is a Refugee?What is a Refugee?

People from other countries who have People from other countries who have been granted been granted

-if they have been threatened in their -if they have been threatened in their home country because of their race, home country because of their race, religion, or political opinionsreligion, or political opinions

YouTube - Angelina Jolie returns to ChadYouTube - Angelina Jolie returns to Chad

Asylum (official protection)

• Refugees are expected to return home when it is safe to do so.

• Refugees who cannot go home may become legal permanent residents after they have lived here continuously for one year.– There are limits on that

Temporary Residents

• Visa – document that allows them to be in the country for a specific purpose and a specific length of time.

• They are expected to return to their home country – Visitors, students, foreign media

Illegal Immigrants – Who Illegal Immigrants – Who are they?are they?

1. Temporary residents who remain 1. Temporary residents who remain in the country after their Visa expires.in the country after their Visa expires.

2. People who come by avoiding 2. People who come by avoiding any/all regulations (might not qualify any/all regulations (might not qualify to come here legally)to come here legally)

Problems with illegal immigrationProblems with illegal immigration

Children of illegal immigrants must Children of illegal immigrants must be educated.be educated.

Immigrants may be entitled to Immigrants may be entitled to receive some government servicesreceive some government services

Many pay taxes, others work Many pay taxes, others work unofficially and do not pay taxesunofficially and do not pay taxes

What happens if they are caught?

• Deported – to send home an immigrant who has violated INS rule

Rights and Responsibilities of Non Rights and Responsibilities of Non CitizensCitizens

Right to due process – fair trial, lawyerRight to due process – fair trial, lawyer

Cannot vote in national electionsCannot vote in national elections

Why does the U.S. limit immigration?

U.S. cannot absorb everyone When the economy is going through hard

times, immigration becomes a bitter issue Immigration uses social services and

community resources

AmnestyAmnesty

an act of forgiveness for past an act of forgiveness for past offenses, esp. to a class of persons offenses, esp. to a class of persons as a whole. as a whole.

How does this apply to immigration?How does this apply to immigration?– If you grant illegal immigrants amnesty, If you grant illegal immigrants amnesty,

you forgive them for entering illegally, you forgive them for entering illegally, and pave a path for citizenshipand pave a path for citizenship

Did you know?

• It is estimated that by 2050, the nonminority white population will make up barely half of all Americans