MODULE 5 UNDERSTANDING LEGAL ISSUES OF NEW POPULATIONS

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MODULE 5UNDERSTANDING LEGAL ISSUES OF NEW
POPULATIONS

• Unit 1 Immigration Legal Issues of New
  Populations in Your Communities.

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Introduction

• Unit 1 - Immigration and Legal Issues
  provides a broad overview of the topics and
  issues that will be elaborated on in the
  subsequent units in this module.

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Topics Covered in Module 5

• Unit 1 Immigration Legal Issues of New
  Populations in Your Communities
• Unit 2 Understanding Cultures - Building
  Bridges Across the Cultures in Your Communities
• Unit 3 Accessing Public Benefits

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Topics Covered in Module 5

• Unit 4 Life Skills Challenges
• Unit 5 Work Permits, Green Cards, Permanent
  Residency, Citizenship Deportation
• Unit 6 Sources for Basic Immigration Legal
  Information

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America Is a Melting Pot

• America is a melting pot of races, cultures
  and religious groups that have come from many
  points on the globe. In fact, the United States
  is often referred to as a nation of immigrants.

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Major Immigrant Groups In the U.S.Historical
Trends (1820-2002)

• Top 10 Largest U.S. Immigrant Groups
• Germans
• Mexicans
• Italians
• Britons
• Irish
• Canadians

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Largest Immigrant Groups In U.S.Historical
Trends (1820-2002)

• Former USSR Citizens
• Austrians
• Hungarians
• Filipinos

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Major New ImmigrantsFiscal Year (FY) 2002

• While the aforementioned groups represent the
  largest immigrant groups in the U.S. over the
  past century, Bureau of U.S. Citizenship and
  Immigration Service data (FY 2002) indicates that
  the majority of new immigrants in the U.S. come
  from
• North America - Mexico
• Asia - India China

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People Immigrate to America for a Number of
Reasons

• The Most Common Reasons Include
• Seeking Economic Opportunity a Better Way of
  Life
• Reuniting with Loved Ones
• Fleeing Political Persecution
• Pursuing Religious Freedom

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Legal Versus Illegal Immigration

• On average, approximately one million immigrants
  arrive in the U.S. each year
• Of these, 700,000 enter as lawful permanent
  residents
• Another 100,000 to 150,000 enter legally as
  refugees or others fleeing persecution and
• Undocumented immigrants constitute 1 of the
  total U.S. population.

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Illegal Immigrants

• Contrary to popular belief, most immigrants
  who are here illegally (6 out of 10) enter the
  U.S. legally with a student, tourist, or business
  visa and become illegal when they remain in the
  U.S. after their visas expire.

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U.S. Priorities for Legal Immigration

• Most legal immigrants, about 8 out of 11, come
  to join close family members.

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Family Reunification

• Family-sponsored immigrants enter as either
  immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, such as
• Spouses
• Unmarried minor children, or
• Parents

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Family Reunification

• Relatives of permanent residents, and
• Siblings of U.S. citizens
• Enter through the family preference system.

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An Important Aspect of U.S. Immigration Policy

• Family reunification is a key aspect of U.S.
  immigration policy and is based on the premise
  that strong families build good communities.

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Admission of Skilled Workers

• The second priority of the U.S. legal
  immigration system is to allow U.S. employers
  access to a small number of skilled workers from
  other countries when qualified Americans are not
  available.

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Religious Political Freedom

• U.S. immigration policy acknowledges our
  support of religious and political freedom and
  ensures our commitment to advocate and provide a
  haven for individuals fleeing oppression and
  persecution.

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Overview of Common Immigrant Issues

• Obtaining an Immigrant Visa
• Definition of Immigrant
• Who Is Eligible to Apply for the Visa?
• How Can the Applicant Determine When the Visa
  Number Will Be Available?

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Common Issues

• Becoming a Permanent Resident
• Who is Eligible to Apply?
• What is the Process?
• Where To Apply?

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Common Issues

• Obtaining a Work Permit
• Who Is Eligible?
• What is the Procedure for Applying?

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Common Issues

• Public Benefits
• Who Is Eligible?
• What Type of Benefits are Available?
• Where To Go For Services?

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Legal Resources

• For Immigrants Needing Legal Guidance
• What are the Resources In Your Community?
• What National Organizations and Groups Can
  Provide Support?

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Building Bridges Across Cultures

• Overcoming Barriers of Language Culture
• How Does the New Entrant Cope With the New
  Society?
• Are There Local Support Groups that Can Help?

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Building Bridges Across Cultures

• How Can the Extension Educator Enhance the New
  Immigrants Assimilation Into the Community?
• The Extension Educator Bridging Services to Needs
• Educate Potential Employers About the Skill-Pool
  Available Through New Immigrant Groups
• Promote Cultural Awareness Acceptance Through
  Cultural Community Activities Developed In
  Partnership with Local Support Groups.