The document provides an overview of immigration to the United States, covering the process of becoming a citizen, categories of immigrants, and the factors driving immigration. It highlights the distinction between lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees, and discusses pathways to obtain a green card including family reunification, employment, and the diversity visa lottery. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of creating welcoming environments for immigrants and remaining informed about immigration issues.

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