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 24th -April 28th 2006© Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2006

Immigration Teach-In Topics

• Immigration Terms • Understanding the

process• Minnesota – Proud of

its immigration past and present

• Studying immigration – who, from where and why?

Definitions to be Covered

• Citizen

• Immigrant

• Non-immigrant

• Lawful Permanent Resident

• Refugee

• Asylee

• Undocumented

• Green card

• Naturalization

• Visa

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

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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)

Someone in the U.S. who is not a Citizen is either an

Immigrant or a

Nonimmigrant

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.

Immigrants

Immigrants settle in a country intending to stay there permanently and become citizens.

Some categories of immigrants are:

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

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.

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.

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.

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:

How to Obtain a Green Card

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Q: What are some of the ways you can obtain a green card?

(Click for the answer)

• Family

• Employment

• Fleeing Persecution

• Diversity Visa Lottery

Lawful Permanent Residents may become U.S. Citizens

Eligible immigrants may choose to go through the process of

to become a U.S. citizen.

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.

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

PUSH

Factors

PULL

and

Push Factors

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

Some Push Factors May Include:

• War

• Famine

• Natural Disaster

• Unemployment

• Underemployment

• Persecution

• Economic Hardship

• Lack of Opportunity

• Poor Education

• Civil Unrest

Pull Factors

“Pull factors” draw or attract a person to his/her destination.

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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

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

What about Immigration in Minnesota?

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.

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.

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

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.

QUIZ TIME!

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)

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)

What are the top Latin American nationalities immigrating to MN?

M, C, S• Mexican (95,613)• Cuban (2,527)• Salvadoran (2,005)

Can you identify the top European nationalities immigrating to MN?

S, B• Serbian (4,296)• Bosnian (2,193)

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

© Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights 2006