“Becoming a Citizen”

“Nation of Immigrants” Since 1820, more than 60 million immigrants have come from other countries around the world to settle in the US. People who come here from other countries bring with them different languages, customs, beliefs, etc. Is America a “melting pot” or “tossed salad”?

“Nation of Immigrants” An alien is a person who lives in a country but is not a citizen of that country. An immigrant is an alien who plans to remain here. Immigrants (like citizens) are considered to be residents of the US because they live here permanently or on a long-term basis. Today, many US immigrants come from Spanish-speaking countries. Why???

Immigration Policy According to the US Constitution, Congress has the power to regulate immigration. Congress first began passing laws about immigration in the 1880s. Example – The Chinese Exclusion Act In the 1920s, laws established quotas to further limit the number of people admitted into the US.

Immigration Policy Today the Immigration Act of 1990 sets a total annual quota of 675,000 immigrants permitted to move to the US each year. This law gives preference to: - spouses/children - people with special skills, talents & money -“those who work and produce and contribute…”

Who is a Citizen? The 14th Amendment (1868) The “14th Amendment” to the US Constitution defines a U.S. citizen as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States.”

Citizenship by Birth

Citizenship by Birth The term natural born (or native-born) citizen is given to anyone who is born in the US or to American parents-- by “Blood” or “Soil”. Law of Blood – Jus Sanguinis Both parents are US citizens OR One parent is a US citizen who lives in the US Law of Soil - Jus Soil Born on US soil, including territories or military bases…

Citizenship by Birth According to the US Census Bureau – 86.6% of Americans are native born. Sometimes people can be dual citizens, or citizens of two different countries at the same time.                                                                           

Citizenship by Naturalization If you are not born an American citizen, you can choose to go through the process of naturalization. Nearly half of foreign-born people living in the US are naturalized citizens.

FIVE STEP Naturalization Process Step #1: Apply for a permanent residency visa (“green card”) and wait 5 years.

Naturalization Process Step #2: Apply for citizenship and file a “declaration of intention” with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)… To apply for naturalization, an applicant must be at least 18 years old. Albert Einstein’s Application

Naturalization Process Step #3: Applicants must get fingerprinted. Why would this be an important step in obtaining citizenship?

Naturalization Process Step #4: Applicants must be interviewed and pass a citizenship test with the USCIS. All applicants must take the Citizenship Exam in ENGLISH. The exam tests basic knowledge of reading, writing, U.S. history, Civics, etc…

Naturalization Process Step #5: Once the applicants pass the citizenship exam, they attend a naturalization ceremony. Here, the new citizens pledge their loyalty to the U.S. and to obey the laws – they take the Oath of Allegiance.

Oath of Allegiance (think/pair/share interpretation activity) "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."

Rights of Naturalized Citizens A naturalized citizen has all the same rights and duties as a native-born citizen. Examples of Rights: Hold jobs Run for office Serve on juries Vote *Only exception – naturalized citizens cannot become the President! http://www.cleanvideosearch.com/media/action/yt/watch?v=ROuyKYF8Yjo

Can you LOSE your citizenship?

Can you LOSE your citizenship? YES, but it is very rare! The U.S. Government has the power to grant citizenship AND take it away… Most Americans who give up their citizenship do it voluntarily. CAREFUL: Once you renounce your citizenship to the U.S., there is NO going back or changing your mind…

Legal Aliens/Residents in America A legal alien/resident is a citizen of another country who has received permission to live in the US. There are approximately 21.7 million legal aliens/residents living in the US today. Legal aliens/residents do NOT have full political rights…they CANNOT vote, run for office, serve on juries, or hold most government jobs…

Undocumented Residents Approximately 11.3 million undocumented residents live in the United States… (Dept. of Homeland Security) Some enter the US illegally, and fail to have proper immigration documentation…others may come here legally, but stay past the time their paperwork allows. Many enter the US in search of jobs, education, healthcare or a better place to raise their family.

Undocumented Residents Undocumented residents can be deported back to their country. The U.S. Border Patrol is given the task of preventing illegal immigration.

Refugees Our immigration quota does not include refugees. Refugees are people who are trying to escape the dangers of their home countries because of persecution, war, or other crisis situations. The President and Congress set quotas each year to allow a certain number of refugees into the US. 1960-1970s – Cuban Refugees to Florida…

E Pluribus Unum Our country has changed throughout the years as various groups have settled here from other countries around the world. As read on all US coins, E Pluribus Unum, Latin for “out of many, one” embodies the idea that our country, though diverse and ever-changing, is still one unified nation.