Unit One: Chapter One Section Two
"The Path To Citizenship"
Bruce Springsteen performing “Born in the USA.”
Who are America’s Citizens?
In 1984, Bruce Springsteen released an album and song entitled “Born in the USA.” The song exhibits intense patriotic expressions and was a major hit. It came out during a time that the United States was embarking on the second term of Ronald Reagan, considered a strong promoter or pride and respect in America. Springsteen’s song symbolizes for some what it means to be an “American.”
In 1984, Bruce Springsteen released an album and song entitled “Born in the USA.” The song exhibits intense patriotic expressions and was a major hit. It came out during a time that the United States was embarking on the second term of Ronald Reagan, considered a strong promoter or pride and respect in America. Springsteen’s song symbolizes for some what it means to be an “American.”
An image from a scene in the Cheech Marin film “Born in East L.A.” The basis of the film was Marin’s song of the same title that parodied Springsteen’s song.
Not long after Springsteen released this song, comedian Cheech Marin recorded a parody song of the hit. Marin’s song, “Born in East LA” follows the plight of a native-born Los Angeles man mistaken for being an undocumented immigrant (i.e. illegal alien). The song would lead to a film of the same name, starring Marin in the lead role.
Immigration and the concerns of being a citizen of the United States has played a key role in many motion pictures over the years. Gran Torino (2008), Babel (2006), God Grew Tired of Us (2006), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Spanglish (2004), The Terminal (2004), Gangs of New York (2002), Titanic (1997), Far and Away (1992), Green Card (1990), Avalon (1990), Coming to America (1988), and even An American Tale (1986) all portray the dreams, struggles, and concepts of being a immigrant to the United States. When we look at these films, we see the filmmakers visions of what it means to be a citizen of our country. Are citizens born or made? The answer is “both.”
Immigration and the concerns of being a citizen of the United States has played a key role in many motion pictures over the years. Gran Torino (2008), Babel (2006), God Grew Tired of Us (2006), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), Spanglish (2004), The Terminal (2004), Gangs of New York (2002), Titanic (1997), Far and Away (1992), Green Card (1990), Avalon (1990), Coming to America (1988), and even An American Tale (1986) all portray the dreams, struggles, and concepts of being a immigrant to the United States. When we look at these films, we see the filmmakers visions of what it means to be a citizen of our country. Are citizens born or made? The answer is “both.”
Tom Hanks character, Viktor Navorski, looks lost as he looks around a New York City airport terminal in the 2004 film "The Terminal." Navorski is new to the United States and is unable to speak or read much English.
Clint Eastwood's character, Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski, confronts his Hmong neighbor in the 2008 film "Gran Torino."
Citizenship by Birth
Many of us were may be attending school in the same community or area where we were born. Some of you may have been born in other locations, communities, states, even other countries. Of the 316,128,839 people estimated by the Census Bureau to live in the United States in 2013, 40,780,620 (12.9%) were born in a foreign country. According to the same Census Bureau, the segment of population with the highest percentage of total people (18-44 year olds) also has the highest percentage of non-native born individuals (50.3%). When you consider these statistics, you begin to realize that we are a nation of immigrants, whether we are all official citizens or not. How do we define who is a citizen? The Fourteenth Amendment states that a United States citizen is anyone “born or naturalized in the United States.” A person born in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia is automatically a U.S. citizen. If your parents happened to be American citizens but you were born outside of the country, you would still be an American citizen. This also applies to American territories, military bases, and embassies. Anyone born in the United States to parents not U.S. citizens will automatically be a citizen by virtue of birth. Dual citizenship is acknowledged in someone that is born to U.S. citizens in another country. For instance, your father is stationed in Germany and you are born there, then you have both U.S. and German citizenship. If a person is not born in the United States but wishes to become a citizen after living here, there is a legal process known as naturalization.
Many of us were may be attending school in the same community or area where we were born. Some of you may have been born in other locations, communities, states, even other countries. Of the 316,128,839 people estimated by the Census Bureau to live in the United States in 2013, 40,780,620 (12.9%) were born in a foreign country. According to the same Census Bureau, the segment of population with the highest percentage of total people (18-44 year olds) also has the highest percentage of non-native born individuals (50.3%). When you consider these statistics, you begin to realize that we are a nation of immigrants, whether we are all official citizens or not. How do we define who is a citizen? The Fourteenth Amendment states that a United States citizen is anyone “born or naturalized in the United States.” A person born in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia is automatically a U.S. citizen. If your parents happened to be American citizens but you were born outside of the country, you would still be an American citizen. This also applies to American territories, military bases, and embassies. Anyone born in the United States to parents not U.S. citizens will automatically be a citizen by virtue of birth. Dual citizenship is acknowledged in someone that is born to U.S. citizens in another country. For instance, your father is stationed in Germany and you are born there, then you have both U.S. and German citizenship. If a person is not born in the United States but wishes to become a citizen after living here, there is a legal process known as naturalization.
Immigrants to the United States becoming naturalized citizens in a swearing-in ceremony.
The Naturalization Process
Of that number of 40.7 million residents of the United States born elsewhere, many are not U.S. citizens. They are aliens, or a person living in a country where they are not a citizen by birth or naturalization. Some people come the United States for work purposes, etc. and this gives credence to being a “registered alien.” Some might be here illegally, with no documentation allowing them to stay in the country. These individuals are still citizens of their home countries and many will return home at some time. Others might plan to settle in the United States and become naturalized citizens. People who move permanently to the United States, or any country, are known as immigrants. There is much media coverage of the boarder issues that face the United States. Some legislators want to enact tougher border policies.
There is a process that must be followed to become a naturalized United States citizen. A statement must first be signed signifying that the person wants to become a U.S. citizen. This is known as a Declaration of Intention and is filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The person is expected to live in the United States for at least five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen. They will take special classes in preparation for citizenship. Then if they are at least 18 years old and have lived in the state where they seek naturalization for at least three months, they can file an application for citizenship. Once the paperwork is checked, an official with USCIS will conduct an interview with the person and a citizenship exam will have to be taken. USCIS will make a decision after that. When all of this is completed, the person will attend a ceremony and pledging of an oath of allegiance to the United States. The person will swear loyalty to our country and obey the Constitution and participate in the military if needed. The person will sign a document and is declared a citizen of the United States at that point.
Of that number of 40.7 million residents of the United States born elsewhere, many are not U.S. citizens. They are aliens, or a person living in a country where they are not a citizen by birth or naturalization. Some people come the United States for work purposes, etc. and this gives credence to being a “registered alien.” Some might be here illegally, with no documentation allowing them to stay in the country. These individuals are still citizens of their home countries and many will return home at some time. Others might plan to settle in the United States and become naturalized citizens. People who move permanently to the United States, or any country, are known as immigrants. There is much media coverage of the boarder issues that face the United States. Some legislators want to enact tougher border policies.
There is a process that must be followed to become a naturalized United States citizen. A statement must first be signed signifying that the person wants to become a U.S. citizen. This is known as a Declaration of Intention and is filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The person is expected to live in the United States for at least five years, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen. They will take special classes in preparation for citizenship. Then if they are at least 18 years old and have lived in the state where they seek naturalization for at least three months, they can file an application for citizenship. Once the paperwork is checked, an official with USCIS will conduct an interview with the person and a citizenship exam will have to be taken. USCIS will make a decision after that. When all of this is completed, the person will attend a ceremony and pledging of an oath of allegiance to the United States. The person will swear loyalty to our country and obey the Constitution and participate in the military if needed. The person will sign a document and is declared a citizen of the United States at that point.
A Lifelong Privilege
Most people keep their citizenship for life. Some may give it up in protest of governmental policies and move to another country. Others might relinquish their American citizenship if they marry someone in another country and choose to become a citizen there. If a person gives up their citizenship in the United States, they can never regain citizenship. The federal government is the only entity that can take away a person’s citizenship status without their approval. This normally only happens in extreme criminal situations.
Aliens in America
The United States has restricted the number of immigrants who can enter the country for over one hundred years. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, Asian immigrants were restricted and even refused entrance at all to our country for some periods. Today, millions apply for entrance, but only about 675,000 gain acceptance each year. Those that typically get highest consideration are those with family members in the country or have specialized job skills needed in our country. The Immigration Act of 1990 steered the emphasis more toward those with particular skills, talents, or money to invest in our economy.
Most people keep their citizenship for life. Some may give it up in protest of governmental policies and move to another country. Others might relinquish their American citizenship if they marry someone in another country and choose to become a citizen there. If a person gives up their citizenship in the United States, they can never regain citizenship. The federal government is the only entity that can take away a person’s citizenship status without their approval. This normally only happens in extreme criminal situations.
Aliens in America
The United States has restricted the number of immigrants who can enter the country for over one hundred years. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, Asian immigrants were restricted and even refused entrance at all to our country for some periods. Today, millions apply for entrance, but only about 675,000 gain acceptance each year. Those that typically get highest consideration are those with family members in the country or have specialized job skills needed in our country. The Immigration Act of 1990 steered the emphasis more toward those with particular skills, talents, or money to invest in our economy.
Illegal Aliens
While less than ¾ million immigrants enter the country in a given year, close to 6 million other immigrants live in the United States illegally. Some may have entered legally and but remained after their official permits, commonly a visa, has expired. By large, most illegal immigrants enter the country without any permission at all. They may have been refused permission or never applied. Some fear delays in the process so ignore the procedure.
While less than ¾ million immigrants enter the country in a given year, close to 6 million other immigrants live in the United States illegally. Some may have entered legally and but remained after their official permits, commonly a visa, has expired. By large, most illegal immigrants enter the country without any permission at all. They may have been refused permission or never applied. Some fear delays in the process so ignore the procedure.
Many Americans associate illegal immigration with Mexico, in large part due to the media coverage of Mexico/United States border conflicts. While 62% of the illegal immigrants in our country are from Mexico and another 24% from other Latin American countries, this doesn’t represent all illegal immigration. Approximately 9% of all illegal immigration to the United States came from Asia, 3% from Africa, and 6% from Europe and Canada. The Urban Institute estimates between 65,000 and 75,000 Canadians live illegally in the United States. These numbers and percentages are just speculative, as it is difficult to know how many of these immigrants are in the country illegally because they try to keep quiet for fear of conviction or deportation. It is against the law to hire illegal aliens but many people still do but at lower wages than other people. The main law enforcement agency handling illegal alien situations is the United States Border Patrol, a division of the USCIS. In an effort to detect and prevent the illegal entry of aliens into this country, the Border Patrol monitors the entire land borders between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, plus the coastal waters surrounding Florida and Puerto Rico.
Legal Aliens
Some alien immigrants to the United States live for years here. They lead lives basically identical to those of American citizens. Aliens may hold jobs, own property, attend school, and receive government services. They pay taxes and are entitled to legal protection. They do not have the full political rights possessed by a citizen. They may not vote in elections or run for office and cannot serve on juries or work in most government jobs. They must carry an identification care with them at all times.
Some alien immigrants to the United States live for years here. They lead lives basically identical to those of American citizens. Aliens may hold jobs, own property, attend school, and receive government services. They pay taxes and are entitled to legal protection. They do not have the full political rights possessed by a citizen. They may not vote in elections or run for office and cannot serve on juries or work in most government jobs. They must carry an identification care with them at all times.