1. © The Advocates for Human Rights 2008
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

2. 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

3. Terms to be Covered Asylee Citizen Green card Immigrant
Lawful Permanent Resident
Undocumented
Naturalization
Visa
Non-immigrant
Refugee

4. 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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5. There Are Ways To Be a Citizen:4
You are BORN in the U.S.
You are born to a U.S. citizen parent or your parent became a citizen before you turned 18
You are adopted by a U.S. citizen (Child Citizenship Act of 2000)
You are naturalized (more about this process later)

6. Someone In the U.S. Who is Not a Citizen is Either An
Immigrant
or a
Non-immigrant

7. 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.

8. Immigrants
Immigrants settle in a country intending to stay there permanently and become citizens.
Two categories of immigrants are:

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Country of Origin of Refugees in the U.S. at the End of 2007
China: ,800
Haiti: ,300
Cuba: ,700
Somalia: 11,600
Colombia: 8,200
Russia: ,100
Liberia: ,900
Iran: ,900
Guatemala: 3,400
Vietnam: ,400
Ethiopia: ,200
Indonesia: 3,100
Ukraine: ,100
Venezuela: 3,100
India: ,800
Nicaragua: 2,400
Myanmar: 2,200
Sudan: ,200
Other: ,800
Countries which generated the greatest #s of refugees and asylum seekers (total as of Dec 31, 2005)
Total number worldwide as of Dec 31, 2007: 14,047,300
Does NOT include those who have received permanent residency in the country to which they have relocated
Total number of refugees in the U.S at the end of 2007: 151,200
World Refugee Survey (2008)

13. Region of Birth for All Foreign-Born in the U.S. (including refugees)
Latin America: mil.
Asia: mil.
Europe: mil.
Other: mil.
Other = Those from Africa, Oceania (mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and the vicinity), and Northern America
Total foreign-born in U.S. as of 2003: 33.5 million (11.7% of population)
U.S. Census (2003)

14. 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.

15. Can anyone who wants to become a citizen become one?
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
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?
Only a few ways, and not everybody is eligible for one.
Here are the main ways to obtain a green card…

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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:
0.8%

22. Q: What Are Some of the Ways You Can Obtain a Green Card
Q: What Are Some of the Ways You Can Obtain a Green Card? (Click for the answers)
Family
Employment
Fleeing persecution
Diversity visa lottery
Way To Go!

23. Lawful Permanent Residents May Become U.S. Citizens
Eligible immigrants may choose to go through the process of
to become a U.S. citizen.
naturalization

24. 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).

25. 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

26. 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.

27. Some Push Factors May Include:
War
Famine
Natural disaster
Unemployment
Underemployment
Persecution
Economic hardship
Lack of opportunity
Poor education
Civil unrest

28. Some Pull Factors May Include:
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

29. QUIZ TIME!

30. 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 A+

31. 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