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.

1. 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:
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)

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. World Refugee Survey (2008) 12
Iran: 3,900
Guatemala: 3,400
Vietnam: 3,400
Ethiopia: 3,200
Indonesia: 3,100
Ukraine: 3,100
Venezuela: 3,100
Country of Origin of
Refugees in the U.S. at the End of 2007
China: 16,800
Haiti: 12,300
Cuba: 11,700
Somalia: 11,600
Colombia: 8,200
Russia: 8,100
Liberia: 6,900
Total number of refugees in the U.S.
at the end of 2007: 151,200
India: 2,800
Nicaragua: 2,400
Myanmar: 2,200
Sudan: 2,200
Other: 42,800

13. 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)

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?
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

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:

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

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.

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. • 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:

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

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

32. • 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

33. 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!

34. © The Advocates for Human Rights 2008
Marcelo Gomes Freire