The Process & Immigrate Aliens
By: Rachel Coble & Anthony Owens
The Naturalization Process:
The 3 steps to the Naturalization Process:
- Interview and Examination
- Oath of Allegiance
- A Lifelong Privilege
Interview and Examination:
- The alien has an interview with a USCUS official.
- Agency officials wants to be sure the alien meets the necessary requirements and is of good moral character.
- The applicant must take a citizenship exam that consists of questions about reading, writing, and speaking English and basic facts about the history and government of the US.
Oath of Allegiance:
- If the application is granted, the final step in naturalization is attending a ceremony and pledging an oath of allegiance.
- The alien swears to be loyal to the country above all others, to obey the Constitution and laws, and perform military if needed.
- If the alien is under 18, they automatically become naturalized citizens.
A Lifelong Privilege:
- Whether the alien is naturalized or native-born, most Americans keep their citizenship forever.
- Only the federal government can both grant citizenship and take it away.
- State government can deny, or refuse, a convicted criminal some of the privileges of citizenship, such as voting, they do not have the power to deny citizenship itself.
Denaturalization:
- The loss of citizenship through fraud or deception during the naturalization process.
- The simplest way to lose citizenship is through expatriation, or giving up one's citizenship by leaving one's native country to live in a foreign country.
- Expatriation may be voluntary or involuntary . Involuntary would occur when a child whose parents become citizens of another country.
- A person may lose citizenship when convicted of certain federal crimes that involve extreme disloyalty. These crimes include treason, participation in a rebellion, and attempts to ovethrow the government through violent means.
Legal Aliens vs. Illegal Aliens:
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.
- Aliens who have entered the US legally lead lives much like those of American citizens.
- Aliens do not have full political rights, they may not vote in elections or run for office.
Illegal Aliens:
- Approximately 12 million aliens are living illegally in the US.
- Some were refused permission to immigrate, others never applied or got turned down.
- Illegal aliens come to the US in a variety of ways.
- Some enter the country as temporary visitors but never leave, others risk arrest by illegally crossing our borders with Mexico and Canada, and others are foreigners who have stayed in the US after their legal permits expired.