Monday, October 27, 2014

US Citizenship Study Booklet - Q1 to Q12 - EZ Civics Lessons



Listen and Read Along: US Citizenship Study Booklet - Q1 to Q12 - EZ Civics Lessons

This is a lesson in United States Civics. This Reading Movie will help you understand the principles of American democracy, the U.S. system of government and the important rights and responsibilities of US citizenship. This the booklet which accompanies the Naturalization Quiz.

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Miami Woman Is Guardian to Nearly 1,000 Children of Immigrants



VOAVideo: Miami Woman Is Guardian to Nearly 1,000 Children of Immigrants

Last year, the Obama administration deported 240,000 undocumented immigrants who didn’t have a criminal record. That’s up more than 20,000 from 2012, according to Pew Research. Many of those deported left behind children who are U.S. citizens because they were born here. So who takes in these children? VOA's Carolyn Presutti introduces us to one Florida woman who is taking charge of hundreds.
Originally published at -http://www.voanews.com/media/video/miami-woman-is-guardian-to-nearly-1000-children-of-immigrants/2488237.html

NPR: One Woman, 817 Children: Caring For Kids Of Undocumented Parents

The recent increase in the number of unaccompanied, undocumented minors immigrating across the border has left tens of thousands of children waiting in limbo. But thousands of children who are already American citizens also face an uncertain future — because their parents are not in the country legally. If their parents get deported, those minors could end up in foster care, or adopted by strangers. (read more)

Learn more about Nora Sandigo's work organization, American Fraternity / Fraternidad Americana

Our mission is to serve and educate the local and national community of immigrants by helping them integrate and adjust to American society, culture and legal processes.

Nuestra misión es servir y educar a la comunidad inmigrante local y nacional ayudándoles a integrarse a los procesos legales y culturales de la sociedad Americana.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

West Wing Week 10/17/14 or, "The Geography of Hope"



wh.gov: West Wing Week 10/17/14 or, "The Geography of Hope"

This week, the President continued to lead the federal Ebola response, met with members of the international coalition to degrade and destroy ISIL, and designated the San Gabriel Mountains as a national monument.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Free Online Test Targets English Learners


VOA Learning English: Free Online Test Targets English Learners

A private company has just launched what it calls “the world’s first free standardized English test.” Anyone with an Internet connection can take the test for free. The test can be found at efset.org.(read more) (listen)

Words in this Story
  • launch – v. to offer or sell (something) for the first time
  • prohibitive – adj. so high that people are prevented from using or buying something
  • pilot – v. done as a test to see if a larger program, study, should be done
  • intriguing – adj. extremely interesting
  • game changer – n. an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals - How to Apply/Renew DACA



uscis: Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals - How to Apply/Renew DACA

On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status. Visit uscis.gov/childhoodarrivals for more information.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month

Christopher Columbus
Fiorello H. La Guardia

uscitizenpod: NEW Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month (corrected 10/16/14)

10 questions in honor of Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Italian-American Heritage Month

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

U.S. Citizenship 5: American Indian Tribes

USCIS 100:59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
USCIS 100:87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.



LearningChocolate: U.S. Citizenship 5: American Indian Tribes.

Practice for USCIS questions 100:59 and 100:87 with vocabulary activities from @LearningChocolate and USCitizenPod
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Monday, October 13, 2014


LearningChocolate: U.S. Citizenship 4: The Columbian Exchange

Columbus Day is a US federal holiday that is celebrated on the second Monday of October.

Columbus Day remembers Christopher Columbus' arrival to the Americas on October 12, 1492.

The Columbian Exchange was a widespread exchange of crops and animals between the people of Europe, Africa, and Asia and the people of North and South America.

Dig deeper into Columbus Day with vocabulary activities from LearningChocolate.com and uscitizenpod.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

White House Whiteboard Shorts: #RaiseTheWag



wh.gov: White House Whiteboard Shorts: #RaiseTheWag

Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour is good for American businesses, American workers, and the American economy. Share your story at http://www.whitehouse.gov/Raise-The-Wage

Also watch:

wh.gov: West Wing Week: 10/10/14 or, "Is Anybody Here Over 25?"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and beyond. This week, the President traveled to Indiana and to California, where he spoke on expanding economic opportunity for every American, addressed the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and dedicated the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.
Category

Thursday, October 9, 2014

The Judiciary Celebrates Constitution Day and Citizenship Day



USCourts.org: The Judiciary Celebrates Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Published on Sep 24, 2014
On September 17, 1787, nine men made history by signing the Constitution. It was the final step in the creation of the United States of America. We are a country of immigrants and their descendants. Every September 17th we celebrate this heritage and recognize the importance of citizenship with Constitution Day and Citizenship Day celebrations. This year, 17 courts shared how they marked the day and welcomed 8,500 new American citizens in naturalization ceremonies from coast to coast.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Monday, October 6, 2014

Sunday, October 5, 2014

ESL Podcast 1040 – Dealing with Bureaucracy

USAJOBS.gov is a free web-based job board enabling federal job seekers access to thousands of job opportunities across hundreds of federal agencies and organizations.

ESL Podcast 1040 – Dealing with Bureaucracy 
If you want to do work for the government, be prepared for a lot of rules and regulations to follow. Learn more in this episode. 
Download Podcast 


Saturday, October 4, 2014

US Waivers Could Send Mixed Signals on Use of Child Soldiers

N-400 PART 11:20:  Have you ever forced a child (under 15) to become a soldier?
N-400 PART 11:21:  Have you ever forced a child (under 15) to help soldiers?



VOAVideo: US Waivers Could Send Mixed Signals on Use of Child Soldiers

President Barack Obama has waived restrictions against providing military aid to six countries cited this year for using child soldiers. The countries, mostly in Africa, were among nine listed by the State Department in a June report on human trafficking. The waivers shield six countries from being fully subjected to penalties under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act. As VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports, there is concern that the waivers send out the wrong message.
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/2469670.html

**NEW** N-400 PART 11 Affiliations (greatly expanded old N-400 Part 10C; questions 14-21 are new!)
  • 14 Have you ever badly hurt or killed a person on purpose? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 15 Have you ever participated in a rebel group, militia, or army? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 16 Have you ever worked in a place like a prison or labor camp? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 17 Have you ever been a member of a gang? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 18 Have you ever sold or given weapons to another person? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 19 Have you ever received military or weapons training? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 20 Have you ever forced a child (under 15) to become a soldier? a) Yes. b) No.
  • 21 Have you ever forced a child (under 15) to help soldiers? a) Yes. b) No.

Friday, October 3, 2014

US 'Green Card' Lottery Registration Begins plus two more articles about Legal Immigration


VOA Learning English: US 'Green Card' Lottery Registration Begins

The United States government’s Diversity Immigrant Visa Program opens October 1. The program is known to millions of people around the world as the “green card lottery.” (listen)

VOA Learning English: A Nation of Immigrants, Divided Over the Subject of Immigration

Debate centers on millions of illegal immigrants in the country. The U.S. Congress has failed to agree on a reform plan, so states are passing their own laws.

VOA Learning English: With All the Talk About Illegal Immigration, a Look at the Legal Kind

Second of two programs on immigration issues in the US examines the rules for seeking permanent residency.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

US Attempts Crackdown on Trafficking Along Southern Border



VOAVideo: US Attempts Crackdown on Trafficking Along Southern Border

Nogales, Arizona, is notoriously known as a 'tunnel city,' utilized by drug traffickers to smuggle narcotics into the United States. The U.S. Border patrol and local authorities have responded with new technologies and a heavier presence in the area to help uncover and destroy the tunnels before they are completed. VOA's Ramon Taylor has more from Tucson.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

USCItizenshipPod's Easy Citizenship Interview 15 questions based on the Revised N-400



USCitizenshipPod's Easy Citizenship Interview:  15 questions based on the Revised N-400