PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN Unit 1

CITIZENSHIP Citizen- an official member of a country  If you are born in the U.S., you are automatically a U.S. citizen. (Soil-born)  If your parents are U.S. citizens at the time of your birth, you are a U.S. citizen no matter where you are born. (Blood-born)

PATH TO CITIZENSHIP U.S. Citizen Natural Born Soil Born- Born in the U.S. on U.S. soil Blood Born- Parent is a U.S. citizen when born Naturalized Process 1) Legally live in U.S. for 5 years 2) Interview with CIS 3) Pass citizenship exam 4) Oath of allegiance

14 TH AMENDMENT DEFINES CITIZENSHIP All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

LEGAL ALIENS Have permission to be in the U.S. can hold jobs, own property, go to school, travel, and pay taxes. Cannot vote, run for office, or work for the government.

ILLEGAL ALIENS Illegal Aliens = non-citizens  Illegal: either did not apply or were denied and stayed  Estimated 10 million aliens in the U.S.  It’s illegal to hire or house illegal aliens  If caught, illegal aliens may be deported (sent out the country). Do you think of Aliens as an offensive term?

IMMIGRANTS Permanent residents who have moved to U.S. from other countries. NN ot everyone gets in: Millions apply, only thousands are accepted. HH aving relatives, talents, job skills, or money to invest increases chances of being accepted. TT here have been several waves of immigration in US History Why do you think talents and job skills increase the chance of being accepted.

NATURALIZATION The process of becoming a U.S. citizen Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS): regulates and oversees the process. *) Have a current green card *) Have lived in U.S. for at least 5 years *) Read and write basic English *) Good moral character *) Pass citizenship test *) Take oath of allegiance to U.S.

WAYS TO LOSE YOUR CITIZENSHIP 1) If you become a citizen of another country 2) If you threaten to overthrow the government 3) You serve in the military of another country.