2. Minnesota Immigration Teach-In Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights’ B.I.A.S. (Building Immigrant Support and Awareness) Project is pleased to involve your class in a day to learn about immigration to Minnesota. April 24 th -April 28 th 2006 © Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2006

3. Immigration Teach-In Topics Immigration Terms Understanding the process Minnesota – Proud of its immigration past and present Studying immigration – who, from where and why?

4. Definitions to be Covered Citizen Immigrant Non-immigrant Lawful Permanent Resident Refugee Asylee Undocumented Green card Naturalization Visa

5. Why is it Important to be 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 clipartreview.com

6. There are ways to be a citizen: 1.By being BORN in the U.S. 2.By being born to a U.S. citizen parent or having your parent become a citizen (before you turn 18) 3.Naturalization (more about this process later)

7. Someone in the U.S. who is not a Citizen is either an Immigrant or a Nonimmigrant

8. Non-immigrants Students Temporary Workers Visitors Others may be in the United States temporarily. Their visas allow them to stay only for a limited amount of time.

9. Immigrants Immigrants settle in a country intending to stay there permanently and become citizens. Some categories of immigrants are:

10. Lawful Permanent Residents Lawful permanent residents have permission to remain in the US for as long as they choose and remain crime free. They must renew their green card every 10 year. Lawful

11. 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.

12. 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. and once here applies for protection. Asylees have to prove that they have reason to fear persecution in their home country.

13. Undocumented Immigrants Undocumented immigrants may have entered the U.S. without showing a visa or green card. They may be here with expired papers. They do not have documents that allow them to stay in the U.S.

14. 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? Only a few ways, and not everybody is eligible for one. Here are the main ways:

15. How to Obtain a Green Card

16. Family Roughly 70% of immigrants come to be reunited with family. U.S. citizen adults can sponsor family members (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) More Examples: 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. For a citizen to sponsor his brother from the Philippines it will take

18. Employment Roughly 15% of 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 Roughly 15% of 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. This includes 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 answer) 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 You Must: Have a green card (5 years). Be physically present in the U.S. for 2.5 years. Pay an application fee of nearly $400. 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.

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 Factors PULL and

27. Push Factors “Push factors” are the reasons compelling a migrant to leave his/her home country.

28. Some Push Factors May Include: War Famine Natural Disaster Unemployment Underemployment Persecution Economic Hardship Lack of Opportunity Poor Education Civil Unrest

29. Pull Factors “Pull factors” draw or attract a person to his/her destination. clipartheaven.com

30. Pull Factors: Why Minnesota? Employment Opportunities Rejoining Family Welcoming Atmosphere Excellent Schools Social Services Prepared for Resettlement (churches, hospitals, schools, etc.) Want to Join Established Immigrant Community

31. There are Many Contributions of Immigrants. Some Include… Fill a Labor Need Pay Taxes Add Diversity Share New Ideas Enrich the Culture Offset an Aging Population Strengthen our Global Connections

32. What about Immigration in Minnesota?

33. Immigration to Minnesota before 1910 The Ojibway and Dakota tribes were living in Minnesota when the first traders arrived. By 1850, many immigrants from Norway, Sweden, Ireland and Germany were drawn to Minnesota by inexpensive farmland and growing industry. By 1896, election instructions were issued in 9 languages: English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, French, Czech, Italian and Polish.

34. Current Immigration to Minnesota 6.1% of Minnesota’s population is foreign-born (11.7% nationally). 1% of Minnesota’s population is undocumented Minnesota welcomes more refugees fleeing persecution per capita than any other state.

35. Immigration Challenges in Minnesota: Increasing services in schools and adult education centers Assisting newcomers in integrating and finding employment Combating discrimination Including new customs and religious traditions in the broader Minnesota culture

36. Take Action! 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.

37. QUIZ TIME!

38. Can you identify the top African nationalities immigrating to MN? (The first initial is a hint) S, E, L, N Somalian (11,164) Ethiopian (5,413) Liberian (3,148) Nigerian (3,073)

39. Can you identify top Asian ethnicities immigrating to MN? Hint: H, V, I, C Hmong (45,443) Vietnamese (20,570) Indian (19,963) Chinese (18,622)

40. What are the top Latin American nationalities immigrating to MN? M, C, S Mexican (95,613) Cuban (2,527) Salvadoran (2,005)

41. Can you identify the top European nationalities immigrating to MN? S, B Serbian (4,296) Bosnian (2,193)

42. For More Information go to Obtain accurate and up-to- date INFORMATION. Be informed about the immigration issue in MINNESOTA 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. www.energyofanation.org

43. © Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2006