NY Historical Society: The Citizenship Project: The Oath of Allegiance

 

 

NY Historical Society: The Citizenship Project: The Oath of Allegiance 

Taking the Oath of Allegiance is an important part of the U.S. Citizenship Test. But what new duties and responsibilities do people swear to uphold? The New-York Historical Society Citizenship Project offers free civics test preparation classes for green card holders. 

Watch the NY Historical Society: The Citizenship Project video playlist. 

 Sign up for one of their free Citizenship classes.

U.S. Immigration News

U.S. Immigration, source: Simrin, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Read more news articles about immigration, naturalization and citizenship at VOA Immigration

Undocumented Indian migrants chart new path to US via Canada

In recent years, the United States has seen an unprecedented surge in undocumented migrants from India, most slipping in through Mexico. But as the U.S.-Mexico border faces growing pressure, many are turning to a less conventional path: crossing the expansive and lightly guarded border with Canada. READ MORE

Regretting coming to US, some Chinese immigrants return home

Chinese migrants coming across the southern U.S. border say they made the treacherous journey to flee China’s authoritarian rule, to seek the American dream or escape growing political and economic uncertainty at home.  But the challenges do not end after they arrive, and some are deciding to return to China, while others have no choice.  READ MORE

 

New Form N-400 Annotated Version from ILRC.org

 

On April 1, 2024, USCIS issued a new naturalization form (Form N-400) for public use. To assist practitioners and volunteers in completing the new N-400 form, ILRC developed this annotated form. 

The annotated form explains many of the questions, why specific questions are on the form, how to complete certain questions, and which questions are “red flags” and thus need advice from experienced attorneys or Department of Justice accredited representatives. 

This annotated form will help guide practitioners and volunteers while completing the new N-400. 

Please note that this annotated form is not a substitute for knowing the full details of all the legal requirements for naturalization and the risks of applying for naturalization if the applicant falls into any of the “red flag” categories.  DOWNLOAD

How Republicans and Democrats got their animal symbols

USCIS 100:45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*

 

USCIS 100:46. What is the political party of the President now?

 

VOA News: How Republicans and Democrats got their animal symbols

In the United States, the two major political parties have been illustrated by a donkey, symbolizing the Democratic Party, or an elephant, symbolizing the Republican Party. The images are used on campaign-related materials. But why were these two beasts chosen?

Both U.S. political parties have an animal symbol:

A donkey for Democrats, and an elephant for Republicans.

And they plaster the symbols everywhere: On hats, pins, T-shirts and mugs.

But how did that come to be?

The donkey symbol dates to Andrew Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1828.

Jackson’s opponents labeled him a jackass — another name for donkey.

But Jackson had the last laugh. He incorporated donkeys on his campaign posters — and won.

Political cartoonists perpetuated the link between Democrats and donkeys.

The most famous was Thomas Nast, known as the “Father of the American Cartoon.”

He is also credited for popularizing the Republican elephant.

His satirical drawings appeared in Harper’s Weekly in the 1870s.

But the Republican elephant appeared much earlier in the pro-Lincoln campaign newspaper, Father Abraham.

An elephant is holding up a banner celebrating Union military victories.

It’s a play on the expression “seeing the elephant,” which soldiers used during the Civil War, meaning “engaging in combat.”

Republicans’ embrace of the elephant has only grown stronger over time.

President Gerald Ford and his wife, Betty, had an “elephant room” in their California home.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan was given a baby elephant by the president of Sri Lanka.

Today, Republicans claim the elephant as the party’s official symbol. 

Blessed Eid al-Fitr!

Eid al-Fitr is called the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

Also see:

• VOA News: Muslims across the world prepare for Eid al-Fitr (2024)
• VOA News: Displaced Palestinians celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Egypt's Arish (2024)
• uscitizenpod: Interview with Samia Amed (Yemen) video / mp3
• uscitizenpod: Muslim American Citizenship Interviews and more! playlist (90+ videos)
• uscitizenpod: A Citizenship Quiz for the Month of Ramadan pdf 

U.S. Citizenship Resources for National Library Week

See the original NLW 1958 poster

In honor of Thomas Jefferson's Birthday (April 13, 1743), US Citizenship Podcast celebrates National Library Week 2023. Libraries help transform immigrants into newUScitizens-to-be by providing including study guides, cds/dvds, online courses, and ESL/Citizenship classes.  Learn more about US Citizenship at your local library!

POP QUIZ Background:

After the British burned U.S. capital to the ground (1814), Jefferson donated his personal library to the US government.  Jefferson's library became the core of the Library of Congress, the national library of the United States.

POP QUIZ Civics Questions

1. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
2. Name one branch or part of the government.*
3. Who makes federal laws?
4. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
5. What is the capital of the United States?*

USCIS.gov: Libraries
Libraries play a critical role in serving immigrant communities. Through our joint effort with IMLS, we plan to educate librarians, and in turn their immigrant customers, on topics ranging from naturalization, the unauthorized practice of immigration law, and the importance of digital literacy.

• Library and Adult Education Citizenship Activities (PDF, 410 KB)
  Citizenship-related activities for libraries, such as welcoming and encouragement activities, community-outreach activities, and education-oriented activities.
• Assisting English Language Learners in Your Library (PDF, 139 KB)
  Suggestions for helping your English language learning patrons.
• Library Tours with ESL Classes (PDF, 190 KB)
  Tips for working with English as a second language (ESL) teachers and inviting new patrons to your library to help them explore the vast range of services and resources you provide.
• Creating a Citizenship Review Class in a Public Library (PDF, 499 KB)
  This tip sheet will give an overview of citizenship review classes and provide a sample model.

American Library Association: 

• 2020 Census Resources (note "Citizenship Question) 
• Libraries and the 2020 Census (ALA "brief")
• #LibrariesRespond: Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers Resources
• The Dollar Tree American Dream Literacy Initiative (great examples about grants funding Citizenship classes in public libraries)

Arlington TV: U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at Arlington VA Central Library (video)
U. S. General Naturalization Ceremony held April 12, 2018 at the Arlington Central Library, Arlington, VA.

Arlington County Library: Special US Naturalization - Arlington VA 
with Deaf Performance of the Star Spangled Banner by Mayari Loza

Burton Barr Library Youth Naturalization Ceremony 2012
Phoenix area residents take the Oath of Allegiance and become U.S. citizens during a special ceremony at Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix. Members of the Library Teen Council facilitate the event.

Hartford Public Library: The American Place (TAP) 
HPL/TAP is a free program of Hartford Public Library designed to welcome immigrants and ease their transition into their new home city. TAP promotes Hartford’s shared civic values and its vibrant cultural multiplicity.  Check out HPL/TAP course: Citizenship on the Go.

• Naturalization Ceremony playlist
• AMERICAN PLACE at HARTFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY playlist
• Voices from Newly Naturalized Citizens playlist
• Immigrant Civic Engagement playlist

Folsom Library Helps Welcome New US Citizens
The Folsom Library hosts the swearing in of 25 new US Citizens. This is the ninth year that the US Citizenship Immigration Services has partnered with the library to present this ceremony.

200 New Citizens Take Oath At JFK Library
Two hundred immigrants became American citizens at JFK Library in Boston. WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports. Published on Feb 9, 2017.

The Jones Library Study Guides for The Citizenship Test
The Jones Library E.S.L. Center is an award winning program providing volunteer tutors, tutoring space, study materials, computer-assisted instruction, citizenship classes, English classes and referrals to adult immigrants in the Amherst area. Check out their pdf/audio study guides.

US Naturalization Oath Ceremony, Jones Library, September 4, 2019
The recording of a naturalization and citizenship ceremony at the Jones Library in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The Kansas City Public Library: Naturalization Ceremony at Central Library
On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 about 110 applicants from 45 countries were sworn in as citizens of the United States.

KMBC: KC library hosts naturalization ceremony (2019)
Sixty immigrants from 32 different countries took the oath of citizenship Tuesday at the Kansas City Library downtown.

King County Library: Becoming a U.S. Citizen
Learn how to become a U.S. Citizen and study for the naturalization test.

Los Angeles Public Library - Community Member Testimonial by Sergio Sanchez
I have always had a dream to one day become a citizen of the United States because this country opens doors for everyone who wants to be successful and build a family.  I am so grateful to the Los Angeles Public Library for helping me and my family reach our dreams.  The library helped me—and my wife—become citizens, it helped me improve my English, and it helped my son with his education so he could go to college to become a chemical engineer.

Louisville Free Public Library (FaceBook post)

On March 1, 2019, we welcomed 99 new American citizens from 35 home countries today at the Naturalization Ceremony!

New York Public Library

• Alien Nation: True Tales of Immigration: Sofija Stefanovic and friends celebrate immigrant lives in America, inspired by the long-running Joe’s Pub series.
• Becoming Americans; Immigrant New Yorkers from across the globe come to the Library to learn English and prepare for U.S. Citizenship.
• Civic Education and Democracy in Crisis: A Conversation in Memory of Judge Robert A. Katzmann; Experts in policy, law, and education discuss how restoring widespread civic education and action can provide a lifeline to our imperiled democracy. 
• Ep. 71 "I Can Vote, I Can Participate": Zahra and Hassan are grateful to The New York Public Library for the citizenship classes they took before they faced their naturalization exam — and passed. Libraries play a critical role in welcoming and educating new citizens. 
• Immigration History, Politics, and Prejudices: Jia Lynn Yang with Caitlin Dickerson: The New York Times national editor surveys the 40 years between 1924 and 1965 and the battle to "codify the idea that a person could become wholly American, no matter where she had been born."  Jia Lynn Yang speaks with The Atlantic's Caitlin Dickerson about the paradoxes and the promises of the American idea of itself as a nation of immigrants.
• Library Stories playlist; Stories of so many who use our spaces to write, read, think and learn. 

Pima Library: Welcome to America 
Pima County Public Library recognizes, welcomes, and celebrates immigrants for their contributions to our shared success.   

Otis Library: Naturalization Ceremony at Otis Library on April 13, 2018
Otis Library leads in our community by hosting a Naturalization Ceremony for 19 New US Citizens from 13 different countries during National Library Week

Salt Lake City Public Library's President's Day Naturalization Ceremony
Salt Lake City welcomed 29 new citizens to the United States at the Downtown library, with remarks from President Obama and Mayor Biskupski.

San Francisco Public Libraries Citizenship Resources
Prepare for the USCIS naturalization interview with the helpful resources available in several languages at sfpl.org, including a guide to naturalization, detailed practice materials for the citizenship exam, and a list of local organizations that can help you with the naturalization process. Check out their SFPL multilingual citizenship videos.

Schaumburg Library Citizenship Oath Ceremony
See footage from a Citizenship Ceremony at the Schaumburg Library. Approximately 70 immigrants became new US citizens.

West Irving Library Citizenship Classes (video)
In a special class offered at the West Irving Library, some people are getting help in their quest to become U.S. citizens.

Santa Clara County Library Citizenship Resources
Prepare for U.S. citizenship with these helpful resources, including a guide to naturalization, detailed practice materials for the citizenship exam, and a list of web resources that can help you with the naturalization process.

• All of the lessons and resources used in the SCCL Citizenship Classes
• Campbell Library Citizenship Classes 
• Cupertino Library Citizenship Classes 
• Milpitas Library Citizenship Classes 
• Morgan Hill Library Citizenship Classes 
• Gilroy Library Citizenship Classes
• Saratoga Library Citizenship Classes
• Playlist of mock interviews videos recorded at the Milpitas Library
• SCCL Citizenship @ Your Library 

South Carolina Stare Library: The Path to U. Citizenship Can Start at Libraries 

Does your library provide information on U.S. citizenship? Are you looking for ways to improve your services to your immigrant communities?  Join a representative from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to learn about the citizenship process and what free resources are available.  The presentation will give a background on USCIS, the mission, the local field offices, IMLS Partnership, why libraries should be involved, setting up Citizenship Corners, and resources available online and in print to better assist patrons inquiring about the naturalization process.

Also visit: 

• more U.S. Citizenship Resources for April

updated 2023-04-01

April is Citizen Science Month

NASA: Help NASA Study Eclipses With These Citizen Science Projects

What is NASA?

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that deals with space exploration and aeronautics, the operating and designing of planes. (Source: Simple Wiki)

April is Citizen Science month 

NASA invites you to follow @DoNASAScience on X or @DoNASAScience on Facebook to learn about all of the wonderful opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to participate in legitimate scientific research with NASA. Find a project related to the April 8th eclipse | NASA Solar Eclipse playlist

Citizen Science Projects

NASA’s citizen science projects are collaborations between scientists and interested members of the public. Through these collaborations, volunteers (known as citizen scientists) have helped make thousands of important scientific discoveries. More than 410 NASA citizen scientists have been named as co-authors on refereed scientific publications. Want to work on some real NASA science? Click on one of the 43 projects to get started. NASA citizen science projects are open to everyone around the world, not limited to U.S. citizens or residents.

Poet Fbm Fidel Nshombo Citizenship Ceremony

Poet Fbm Fidel Nshombo Citizenship Ceremony

Also watch: World Music Celebration for Poet Fbm Fidel Nshombo 

UNHCR: Q and A: Refugee poet helps the resettled in US, but still worries about Congo