Who are America’s Citizens?

1. Who are America’s Citizens? Ch. 1 Sec. 2

2. How do people become American citizens? Be born here Complete the naturalization process

3. Citizenship by Birth • You are automatically a U.S. citizen if: • Born in any of the 50 states or D.C • Born in an American territory • Born on a U.S. military base

4. Citizenship by Birth • Both parents are American citizens • One parent is a citizen who has lived here • Born on American soil to non-citizens • *Can have dual citizenship

5. Those who are not citizens by birth: • Aliens- noncitizens • Immigrants- people who move permanently to a new country • Aliens and Immigrants can go through the legal process called naturalization to gain citizenship

6. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

7. The Naturalization Process • Step 1: Sign and file a Declaration of Intention with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) • Step 2: Live in the U.S. for at least 5 years

8. The Naturalization Process • Step 3: File an application for citizenship • Step 4: Interview with a USCIS agent • Step 5: Take and pass a citizenship exam

9. The Naturalization Process Then, if steps 1-5 have been completed and approved: • Step 6: Pledge an oath of allegiance to the United States • Sign a document and be declared a citizen, so are their children under 18

10. What about Native Americans? • All Native Americans were granted citizenship by Congress in 1924 • Prior to that most Native Americans were excluded from citizenship

11. A Lifelong Privilege • Only the federal government can grant or revoke citizenship • 3 ways to lose citizenship:

12. Loss of Citizenship: • 1. Denaturalization - loss of citizenship through fraud or deception during naturalization • 2. Expatriation is the voluntary giving up of one’s citizenship by leaving your native country to live in a foreign country

13. Loss of Citizenship: • 3. If convicted of treason, participating in a rebellion, or attempts to overthrow the government through violent means

14. Aliens in America • Only about 675,000 immigrants are allowed into the U.S. legally each year (quota= numerical limit) • The Immigration Act of 1990 gives priority to “those who want to work and produce and contribute”

15. Illegal Aliens • About 12 million illegal aliens live in the U.S. • It is illegal to hire an illegal alien • They live in fear of being deported • The U.S. Border Patrol guards 6,000 miles of land & 2,000 miles of water • see p. 18

16. 2 Types of Legal Aliens • Resident Aliens: have established permanent residency in the U.S.; can stay as long as they want

17. 2 Types of Legal Aliens • Nonresident Aliens: person who expects to stay in the U.S. for a short, specified period of time • Refugees: people fleeing their country to escape persecution

18. What Aliens Can & Can’t do • Can: hold jobs, own property, attend public schools, get gov’t services, DO Pay taxes • Can’t: vote in elections, run for public office, serve on juries, work in gov’t jobs MUST carry id at all times

19. What do you think… • Do people feel the same way about immigration today as they did 100 years ago? Explain your answer • IF: You were a government official, how would you prevent illegal aliens from entering the United States?