Classic photographs depict immigrants arriving at Ellis Island by boat. Today, fewer immigrants are
greeted by Lady Liberty. The process for obtaining U.S. citizenship has also changed. The maze of paperwork
can be overwhelming, but many sites make it easier to navigate:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Helpful, but expansive. The agency's site introduces immigration services, necessary forms and important
telephone numbers.
- Life in the USA
This site helps immigrants get up to speed on American culture by explaining common religious practices,
public transportation, personal finance, medical care, education and more.
- The Immigration Portal
Links immigrants with lawyers. Its page on political asylum is also quite helpful.
If you're wondering how an immigration lawyer might be useful, check out Siskind, Susser, Haas & Devine's
Immigration Law. In addition to identifying lawyers in the field, the site offers
many case examples.
- The American Immigration Center
Sells products that help citizenship candidates prepare for required exams. It also explains various visas, including
marriage, fiance and student.
- Immigration Resources Bookstore
Discover brochures that walk through the process. Or get books at the U.S. government bookstore.
The State of Immigration
Other sites paint a picture of where immigrants came from and where they are going.
The National Center for Policy Analysis
presents various profiles, including "Characteristics of Mexican Immigrants,"
"Immigrant Census Data" and "Silicon Valley's Immigrants." The Urban Institute offers information on
public benefits for immigrants and a glimpse of their legal status and income levels.
See the American Civil Liberties Union site for information on immigrant rights, including interviews from many champions of pro-immigration policy.
The Atlantic Unbound takes a look at
economic and social arguments surrounding immigration. Articles include "In the Strawberry Fields," a study of the consequences of low-wage agriculture jobs, "The New Economics of Immigration"
and "Can We Still Afford to be a Nation of Immigrants?"
Immigration History
The Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota addresses
American immigration history, focusing primarily on ethnic groups that originated in eastern, central, and southern
Europe and the Near East.
--- J.H.
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