Gaining U.S. Citizenship

I had hoped to make my next post about why folks come to the United States, legally or otherwise - what drives that desire? What's wrong with Cuba, Mexico, and other countries Latino immigrants flee from? Why don't they want to stay there? But so far the topic seems too broad, and I can't get a nice concise post out of it. I might have to ask folks to write in about why they are here, I'm not sure. I know there are economic and political reasons - I just don't know enough to write on it. Yet.

But I do have a little bit about what it takes to gain citizenship, and why it's not as easy as getting your driver's license. You always hear people on the other side of the debate saying things like, "Come here legally, like everyone else does." They make it sound like if illegal immigrants would just go sign a form, take a quiz, get a photo id, they'd be good to go. That's not how it works.

I found a nice article here, on FindLaw.com. They say, "If an individual does not gain U.S. citizenship through either birth or descent, he or she may achieve citizenship through naturalization. Naturalization involves the acquisition of citizen status through specialized legal processes. To become a naturalized citizen of the United States, a foreign national first must meet several legal standards."

Basically, you have to:

• Enter legally
• Stay five years (at least 50% of the time during that five years you need to be in the States)
• Be at least 18 (unless your parents bring you)
• Speak, read, and understand English (with some exceptions)
• Pass a test on U.S. history, politics, and government
• Have/show good moral character (perjury, gambling... not good if you're trying to be naturalized)
• Believe in the political system of this country
• Denounce your country, and be willing to fight for this one

There is more on immigration law here: http://immigration.findlaw.com/immigration/immigration-overview/

So... not impossible, but as many people note, not something even some of us born here could do easily or on the first try (as far as the exam goes). Does that mean no one should try? No. Should the laws be changed to make it easier? I don't know. What about amnesty? That's another post. For now, all I've got are the facts. Conclusions will have to come later.

*Photo courtesy of Nate C. on Flickr