‘We The People’ Defining Citizenship in America

1. ‘We The People’Defining Citizenship in America Mr. HerbertLawrence High School

2. Vocab Terms • Anchor baby: Slang term for a child born in the United States, who by birth in the U.S. is granted citizenship, but whose parents are illegal immigrants. • Aliens: Individuals who have come here from another country, but have not been granted citizenship. • Immigrants: Individuals who have come from another country and have been granted citizenship

3. What does it mean to be a citizen? • According to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, all persons born or naturalized in the United States are considered legal citizens. • How do I become a “naturalized citizen”? • Apply for naturalization through the government and pass both the background check and their “citizenship” test Want to speed up that process…. • Serve in the United States military for a specified period of time • Marry a legal United States citizen

4. Do you know enough to be a United States Citizen? • During your naturalization appointment, a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer will ask 10 questions. The applicant must orally answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly. • Flashcards

5. Immigration patterns throughout American history

6. Restrictions On Immigration • Congress has placed restrictions on the number of immigrants who are granted green cards each year • 480,000 “family-based” immigrants each year (does not include immediately family, such as spouses or children) • “Refugee-based” immigrant allotments are determined by the President and Congress each year, dependent largely on global issues. • 140,000 “employment-based” immigrants each year. • before the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) will issue an employment-based immigrant visa to a foreign-born individual, the employer first must obtain a "labor certification" from the U.S. Department of Labor confirming that there are an insufficient number of U.S. workers able, qualified and willing to perform the work for which the foreign-born individual is being hired • The Department of Labor also must confirm that employment of the foreign-born individual will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers. The labor certification process takes an average of 2 years to complete

7. The Legal Immigration Revision Act of 1990 increased the number of immigrants who would be allowed in each year, but also granted priority to immigrants with special job skills or with money to invest in the economy. Despite government restrictions, a large number of aliens are living in this country illegally. Some are people who were refused permission to immigrate; others never applied. These aliens come to the U.S. in a variety of ways. A few enter the country as temporary visitors, but then fail to leave. Others simply sneak across the border.

8. As of 2014, the New York Times estimates the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States at 12,000,000. Estimates put the number of Mexican-born illegal immigrants at just over 6,000,000. To understand just how many people that is, consider: - The population of Kansas (2,853,118) + the population of Missouri (5,988,927) + the population of Iowa (3,046,355) = 11, 888, 400

9. The Government’s Response Under the Obama administration, deportations of illegal immigrants are at their highest point in history with approximately 400,000 per year. That combined with an economic recession has resulted in the number of illegal immigrants in the United States dropping slightly from its peak of 12.2 million in 2007.

10. 102 become citizens in Dole Institute ceremony NicoRoesler September 17, 2013 Right hands raised, 102 people from 40 countries stood and recited the oath to become American citizens this morning at the Dole Institute of Politics. Standing tall in the crowd wearing a radiant gold dress was AyakMawin of South Sudan, who immigrated to the United States 15 years ago. This ceremony was the realization of a dream for Mawin, who had applied twice before for citizenship. “It’s just amazing,” Mawin said. “I’m finally a citizen and I am able to travel and do so many other things.” Mawin, 38, who now lives in Olathe, has not traveled home to South Sudan since leaving when she was 10; she lived in other countries before coming to the United States. She now has two children, including a daughter who is a student at the University of Kansas School of Business. The golden dress Mawin wore Monday was hand made by her mother, who died several years ago, a victim of war violence. Tears came to Mawin’s eyes as U.S. District Judge John Lungstrum told the candidates that they were officially U.S. Citizens. “This means everything,” Mawin said. Mawin was one of several candidates for citizenship from South Sudan. Other countries represented included Thailand, Uzbekistan, Iran, Iraq, Peru and Somalia. Hector Magana, 31, of El Salvador, was the first of the candidates to be introduced in Hansen Hall, which had been transformed into a U.S. District Courtroom for the naturalization ceremony. The ceremony was the tenth of its kind at the Dole Institute of Politics since 2003. Magana works in Ottawa at a Walmart distribution plant and supports his wife, 6-year-old son and several family members still in El Salvador. Magana admitted, “I’m a little nervous,” just before the ceremony. Among the guest speakers was Kansas University Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little, who congratulated the new citizens. “Today you remind us what a precious gift citizenship is,” Gray-Little said. About 200 family members and supporters stood behind the candidates holding small American flags. For most candidates, the road to Monday’s ceremony was long and challenging. Mawin said her application process took six months. Magana’s took five. “I’m very grateful,” Magana said. “This is a blessing,” . Originally published at: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2013/sep/17/102-become-citizens-dole-institute-ceremony/