Migrant Integration in the United States

1. Migrant Integration in the United States

2. Integration Activities Traditionally Carried Out by Non-Profits at Community Level • Citizenship education has traditionally been conducted by places of worship, non-profit community groups, and schools • Federal government and state government activities have generally been limited to promoting inclusion of civics instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL) adult education programs

3. Immigration Today: Demographic Shifts and Growing Immigration Rates • Immigrants to the U.S. are settling in new areas of the country, including the Southeast, Midwest, and the Rocky Mountain regions • New immigrant destinations have less experience with immigrants and may have fewer resources to help these newcomers integrate into the community through, for example, ESL or citizenship courses

4. Office of Citizenship Created to Supplement Existing ImmigrantIntegration Efforts Within the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services, promotes instruction and training on citizenship rights and responsibilities and provides immigrants with information and tools necessary to successfully integrate into American civic culture.

5. Office of Citizenship Works with Nationwide Integration Network • In partnership with federal, state, and local agencies as well as community-based organizations • 20 Community Liaison Officers are stationed throughout the U.S. Atlanta, GA Burlington, VT Chicago, IL Dallas, TX Denver, CO Detroit, MI Houston, TX Los Angeles, CA Laguna Niguel, CA Miami, FL New Orleans, LA New York, NY Orlando, FL Phoenix, AZ Portland, OR San Antonio, TX San Diego, CA San Francisco, CA Washington, DC

6. Office of Citizenship Products Aim to Promote Civic Literacy in the Community • The development of study tools about government and history for immigrants and for educators to use in the classroom • Promote an understanding of the civic principles on which this nation was founded and which unite us – no matter our ethnicity or native language or religion – as Americans

7. Information Provided to Lawful Permanent Residents at Two Key Points • When they first become permanent residents • When they are ready and eligible to begin the formal naturalization process

8. Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants This comprehensive guide contains: • Information to help immigrants settle into everyday life in the U.S. • History and civics information that introduces new immigrants to the U.S. system of government. • Tips on how to get involved in the community • Rights and responsibilities of lawful permanent residents.

9. “Welcome to the United States” focuses on providing useful information to help immigrants adapt to day-to-day life in their new communities. • Government offices that provide valuable services, • Guides immigrants through the most important steps in getting settled: finding a place to live, enrolling children in schools, opening a bank account • Explains the rights and responsibilities of lawful permanent residents in the U.S.

10. The Guide introduces the theme of citizenship by listing: • The benefits of citizenship, for those who may want to naturalize in the future • The steps of the naturalization process

11. Effective Dissemination: Ensuring that the Guide Gets to Those Who Need it • The Guide is sent to community-based organizations, places of worship, state and local governments, providers of ESL classes, and other groups that directly interface with newly arrived immigrants. • Distribution is promoted by a public service marketing campaign for ethnic radio and ethnic newspapers. • Local versions of the Guide are also produced by community groups around the U.S. This way, more community-specific settlement information is provided to immigrants.

12. Multiple Languages The Guide is being translated into languages most commonly spoken by immigrants • Hard copies are currently available in English and Spanish • Versions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and traditional Chinese can be accessed for free at http://uscis.gov

13. Multiple Languages Free online versions of the Guide will soon be available, at http://uscis.gov, in: • Arabic • French • Portuguese • Haitian Creole • Russian • Tagalog • Korean

14. Products for permanent residents preparing to naturalize Civics Flash Cards Contain sample U.S. history and government questions • an instruction tool to help immigrants prepare for the naturalization exam • Brief civics lessons related to each flash card will also be available online

15. Civics Flash Cards The Civics Flash Cards are currently available at http://www.uscis.gov in Adobe® PDF format and an online interactive version. • The Office of Citizenship provides instructions on how to print the Civics Flash Cards and use them as a study tool. • The online interactive version allows immigrants to view the questions online and answer at his or her own pace.

16. From Permanent Resident to Citizen • Each year the U.S. welcomes hundreds of thousands of new citizens through our naturalization process. To formally become a citizen, an immigrant must demonstrate English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. civics and history • From 1994 to 2003 more than 6 million immigrants became U.S. citizens • With continuing high rates of immigration, the Office’s development of education materials and work with existing integration networks will be of continued importance in coming years.

17. Office of Citizenship Celebrate Citizenship, Celebrate America Visit us on the web at http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/citizenship/index.htm