1.2- Who Are America ’ s Citizens?

Path to Citizenship The US Constitution establishes two ways to become a citizen: by birth and naturalization a legal process for foreign born people to become citizens

Citizenship by Birth If you were born in any of the 50 states, or the District of Columbia you automatically become an American citizen at birth

Citizenship by Birth If you were born outside the country but in American territory, such as Puerto Rico or Guam, or on a US military base overseas you become a citizen at birth *The only exception in this case are children born in the US to foreign diplomats

Citizenship by Birth Even if you were born elsewhere you could still claim American citizenship if your parents are both citizens or if one is a citizen who lived in the US Children born on American soil to non-US citizens also acquire citizenship

Citizenship by Birth Americans may hold dual citizenship which means they enjoy the rights of a US citizen and the citizen of another country

The Naturalization Process Aliens= non- citizens Immigrants= people who move permanently to a new country New Immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, NY

The Naturalization Process Aliens who want to become citizens must first sign a statement known as the Declaration of Intention which is filed with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

The Naturalization Process After living in the US at least five years they may file an application for citizenship; they must be over 18 and lived 3 months in the state they seek naturalization files/form/n-400.pdf files/form/n-400.pdf N-400 Immigration Application

The Naturalization Process After the paperwork is checked, the alien has an interview with a USCIS official who makes sure they meet requirements and is of good moral character

The Naturalization Process They must also take a citizenship exam that consists of questions about reading, writing, speaking English, and facts about the history and government of the US

The Naturalization Process The final step is attending a ceremony and pledging an oath of allegiance

The Naturalization Process They swear to be loyal to the US above all others, obey the Constitution, and perform military or other duties if needed Then the person signs a document and is declared a citizen of the US I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

The Naturalization Process Native Americans were excluded from US citizenship until 1924 President Calvin Coolidge signed the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924

A Lifelong Privilege Most Americans keep their citizenship forever, only the federal government can grant citizenship and take it away

A Lifelong Privilege Citizens can lose citizenship in three ways: 1. Denaturalization= if fraud was committed during naturalization 2. Expatriation=giving it up to live in a foreign country 3. Punishment for a crime= treason, participating in a rebellion, and attempting to overthrow the government through violent means

Illegal Aliens The Immigration Act of 1990 gives special consideration to people with skills, talents, or money to invest in our economy who want to become citizens

Illegal Aliens It is against the law to hire illegal aliens Everyday they live with the fear government officials will discover and deport them- send them back to their own countries

Illegal Aliens The US Border Patrol is the law enforcement unit of the USCIS; its primary responsibility is to detect and prevent the illegal entry of aliens into the US

Legal Aliens A resident alien is a person from a foreign country who has established permanent residence in the US A nonresident alien is a person from a foreign country who expects to stay in the US for a short, specified period

Legal Aliens Refugees are people fleeing their country to escape persecution Refugees fleeing Vietnam after the fall of Saigon April 30, 1975

Legal Aliens Legal aliens may hold jobs, own property, attend public schools and receive other government services They pay taxes and are entitled to legal protection

Legal Aliens Aliens may not vote in elections or run for office, they may not serve on juries or work in most government jobs; they must carry ID at all times