Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Section 2Section 2

The Path to The Path to CitizenshipCitizenship

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Section 2Section 2

The Path to The Path to CitizenshipCitizenship

Who are American citizens?

• The fourteenth Amendment defines a U.S. citizen as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States”

2 Ways to become an American Citizen

• By Birth• By Naturalization

By Birth• By being born on American soil • If both of your parents are

American citizens• Or if one of your parents are

American citizens that have actually lived in the united states

Dual Citizenship• Some circumstances, Americans

may hold dual citizenship.• A child born abroad to American

parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of his or her birth

Aliens• NO not this kind. •Aliens – any noncitizen

living in the united states

•Some come to study, to work, or to visit relative.

•Some aliens plan to settle here and become naturalized citizens. These are called Immigrants

Immigrants• People who move permanently to

a new country and undergo the naturalization process

The Naturalization Process

– Step 1. File a Declaration of Intention.– Step 2. Live in U.S for 5 years– Step 3. Learn English, Civics, U.S. History.– Step 4. File an application of

Naturalization.– Step 5. Meeting with an immigration

examiner.– Step 6. Court Appearance/Oath of

Allegiance

Citizen for Life• Only the federal government can

grant or revoke citizenship• A person can revoke their own

citizenship, but one done can not regain citizenship

Aliens in America• The united States restricts the

number of immigrants who can enter the country.

• Relatives of citizens and people with needed job skills receive the highest priority

Immigration Act of 1990

• A new policy that benefits people with particular skills, talents, or the money to invest in the economy

Illegal Aliens• There are 10 to 12 million aliens

living in the United States illegally• Some enter as temporary visitors

but never leave• Other risk deportation by

illegally crossing our borders with Mexico and Canada.

Deportation• The process of sending an illegal

alien back to their home country.

Legal Aliens• Aliens who have entered the United

States legally lead lives much like American citizens.

• They hold jobs, pay taxes, and are entitled to legal protection

• They can not: vote in election, run for office, serve on juries, or work in most government jobs.

• They must also carry identification cards at all times