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 immigrantsclipartreview.com

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 card every 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: 3,900Guatemala: 3,400Vietnam: 3,400Ethiopia: 3,200Indonesia: 3,100Ukraine: 3,100Venezuela: 3,100

Country of Origin of Refugees in the U.S. at the

End of 2007China: 16,800Haiti: 12,300Cuba: 11,700Somalia: 11,600Colombia: 8,200Russia: 8,100Liberia: 6,900

Total number of refugees in the U.S. at the end of 2007: 151,200

India: 2,800Nicaragua: 2,400Myanmar: 2,200Sudan: 2,200Other: 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 Residents can 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