US, China: A Look at Immigration and Migration

VOA Learning English: US, China: A Look at Immigration and Migration

The U.S. and China have the two largest economies filled with opportunities and jobs. In 2013, a Pew study found that 45 million international migrants lived in the United States. Yet only “850,000 people living in China were born in other countries.” (listen)

Tales from the U.S.-Mexico Border (VOA On Assignment Sept. 26, 2014)

VOAVideo: Tales from the U.S.-Mexico Border (VOA On Assignment Sept. 26, 2014)

Ramon Taylor of VOA's Spanish branch tells On Assignment's Alex Villarreal about the immigration dangers and difficulties he witnessed during his recent reporting trips to the U.S. border with Mexico.
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/2462313.html

Also watch VOAVideo: Identifying Bodies Found in Texas Border Region (heartbreaking)

Thousands of immigrants have died after crossing the border from Mexico into remote areas of the southwestern United States in recent years. Local officials in south Texas alone have found hundreds of unidentified bodies and buried them in mass graves in local cemeteries. Now an anthropologist and her students at Baylor University have been exhuming bodies and looking for clues to identify them. VOA’s Greg Flakus has more from Waco, Texas.
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/identifying-bodies-found-in-texas-border-region/2463459.html

Making Your USCIS Immigrant Fee Payment

USCIS: Making Your USCIS Immigrant Fee Payment

Learn how to pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee using USCIS ELIS.

Adding Family Members

USCIS: Adding Family Members

You can pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee for your family members who will be living with you in the United States. Watch this video to see how.

Paying USCIS Immigrant Fee

Paying USCIS Immigrant Fee

Learn how to provide your payment electronically for the USCIS Immigrant Fee.

Police, Citizens Work to Create Safer Neighborhoods

VOA Learning English: Police, Citizens Work to Create Safer Neighborhoods

American police are using “community policing” to both fight crime and improve relations with citizens in many areas.

• Read more
• Listen to the mp3
• Watch the video

Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year)

Justice Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941)

uscitizenpod: Citizenship Quiz in Honor of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year)
reposted with minor corrections 9/23/14 10:00pm

China Targets Chinese with Dual Citizenship

VOA Learning English: China Targets Chinese with Dual Citizenship

China’s Ministry of Public Security has announced a new policy to support reporting of Chinese dual citizens. A dual citizen is someone who accepts citizenship in another country while keeping his or her first citizenship. The new policy has led to a sharp debate. It is expected to have a major effect on Chinese citizens who live outside of China. (read more) (listen)

For further info, see US State Dept Dual Citizenship

Interview-19: Hao Thi Vu (Saigon, Vietnam)

An Easy Citizenship interview (15 questions) based on the new N-400R 
with Hao Thi Vu (Saigon, Vietnam) plus dictation and 10 USCIS 100qs.

• You can download uscitizenpod's Easy Citizenship Interview at http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/n-400r-easy.pdf
• You can download uscitizenpod's Interview 19 at http://traffic.libsyn.com/uscitizenpod/interview-19.mp3

Also listen to Interview 18: Do Van Nguyen or watch the video.

Arizona Non-Profit Helps Keep Dehydrated Migrants Alive

VOAVideo: Arizona Non-Profit Helps Keep Dehydrated Migrants Alive

The Sonoran desert, a common crossing point for illegal immigration into the United States, is one of the hottest places in North America. Many who attempt the journey become dehydrated and die along the way. This has prompted one non-profit organization to provide migrants with what they need most to survive. From Three Points, Arizona, I'm Ramon Taylor for VOA News.
Originally published at http://www.voanews.com/media/video/aarizona-non-profit-helps-keep-dehydrated-migrants-alive-/2454253.html

Also see: VOAVideo: Dehydration Is Top Killer of Among Southern Arizona's Migrants

The border separating the United States and Mexico spans 3,200 kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico to Baja California. Yet for the countless undocumented immigrants who attempt to cross each year, the journey is difficult, and often deadly. VOA's Ramon Taylor takes us to southern Arizona, where dehydration among migrants is the number one cause of death.

Draw a Blank

VOA LearningEnglish EIM: "Draw a Blank"

Have you ever forgotten something important such as an answer during the Citizenship Test? There is a special idiom when this happens. Watch this program to find out what this phrase is in American English.

West Wing Week 09/19/14 or, "You guys aren't normally this quiet are you?""

wh.gov: West Wing Week 09/19/14 or, "You guys aren't normally this quiet are you?""

This week, the President celebrated the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, awarded the Medal of Honor to two American heroes, detailed U.S. efforts to combat the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa at the CDC in Atlanta, spoke to the troops at MacDill Air Force Base about our strategy against ISIL before returning to meet with the Ukraninan President. That's September 12 to 19 or "You guys aren't usually this quiet are you?"

Constitution & Citizenship Day Celebrated Across the Country

Judiciary Now: Constitution & Citizenship Day Celebrated Across the Country

Nearly 30 federal courts across the country celebrated constitution day and citizenship day with unique naturalization ceremonies. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is a combined event that commemorates the creation and signing of the Constitution of the United States in 1787 and celebrates everyone who, by coming of age or by naturalization, have become US citizens.

Happy Constitution and Citizenship Day 2014

Happy Constitution and Citizenship Day 2014 at Milpitas Adult School!

Happy Constitution and Citizenship Day!

Happy Constitution and Citizenship Day from Milpitas Adult School!  

I took nearly 300 pictures of our students signing and celebrating the Constitution, here are the pictures.  however I left my camera at school. I will post all of the photos as soon as possible, but in the meanwhile, please enjoy a slice of cake. Thanks Nikki for sending me the photo!

Countdown to Constitution and Citizenship Day: 01

**NEW** US Constitution Quick Quiz
   vocabulary and pictures of 

• the 3 Branches of Government
• the 1st Amendment Freedoms
• the 4 Voting Rights Amendments

use US Constitution Quick Quiz with

• uscitizenpod: US Constitution Slide Show (corrected with new sharing permissions)
• uscitizenpod: The U.S. Constitution (video)

**NEW** A Quick Interview for US Constitution and Citizenship Day 2014
     25 questions based on the new N-400r.  Also check out:

• Quick Interview plus 10Qs about the Constitution
• Twenty-seven N-400 and twenty-seven USCIS 100Qs

**NEW** The Constitution
     Beginning High reading by Elsie Chandler, Milpitas Adult School

Countdown to Constitution and Citizenship Day: 02

uscitizenpod: US Citizenship Alphabet (updated)

Countdown to Constitution and Citizenship Day: 03

USCourts.gov: American Naturalization Ceremonies: The Beautiful Mosaic

Excerpts from naturalization ceremonies conducted by federal judges across the nation show the diversity of America.

USCourts.gov: Naturalization Ceremony Celebrated at Cleveland Museum (short video)
Chief Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. of the Northern District of Ohio presided over a naturalization ceremony at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, OH. Oliver welcomed 119 new citizens from 15 countries.

USCourts.org: New Citizens Welcomed at Aztec Ruins Naturalization Ceremony (short video)
Gathering inside a hallowed Pueblo ceremonial room that is nearly 900 years old, the District of New Mexico's chief judge and 10 new American citizens staged a unique naturalization ceremony.

USCourts.gov: CONSTITUTION DAY AND CITIZENSHIP DAY RESOURCES

• Download the PowerPoint Presentation (ppt) (an excellent resource)
• About the U.S. Constitution
• Naturalization Ceremonies
• Podcast: Naturalization Ceremonies
• Photos: Naturalization Ceremonies Across America
• Naturalizations Highlight National Celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
  

Countdown to Constitution and Citizenship Day: 04

Bill of Rights Institute

• Constitution Day Resources (very interesting games but small text)
• Free Lesson Plans: K-12 oriented but can be adapted for ESL/Citizenship students
• Being An American: Exploring the Ideals that Unite Us, High School Ed. with ESL Guide lesson plans $35.00

ConstitutionFacts:

• U.S. Constitution Day Toolkit: Celebrate Constitution Day with crossword puzzles, treasure hunts and words finds – and much more! Click on the links below and share these free resources on Constitution Day.
• Read Famous Quotes about the U.S. Constitution and Democracy.
• Try our fun Crossword Puzzles!
• Test Your Knowledge about the U.S. Constitution.
• Explore ConstitutionFacts.com to find answers to the Treasure Hunts.
• Find the hidden words in our Word Finds.
• Check out these important Dates To Remember
• Reference  Glossary of Terms.

National Constitution Center

• Constitution Day 2014: The Bill of Rights
• Constitution Day Resources
• Naturalization Test

USCIS Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution. For the past 225 years, the Constitution has served as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights and other amendments, define our government and guarantee our rights. Each year, on September 17, Americans celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. In addition, September 17-23 is also recognized as Constitution Week. During this time, USCIS encourages Americans to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be a U.S. citizen.

US Department of Education: Commemorating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Each educational institution that receives Federal funds for a fiscal year is required to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution for its students. This posting is intended to remind affected educational institutions of this responsibility and to provide resources for them to use in developing their program. To assist in planning Constitution Day programs, we are pleased to provide links to Web sites that contain materials that can be publicly accessed for general use or for use as teaching materials in the classroom.

Countdown to Constitution and Citizenship Day: 05

AmericanHistory.si.edu/Citizenship/ for Constitution and Citizenship Day

1. Government Basics USCIS 100: 2, 1, 3, 13
2. Writing the Constitution: USCIS 100: 65, 66, 67, 4, 7, 5
3. Transcripts & Words Lists: download pdfs for study and create handouts