US gov't to promote citizenship in ad campaign

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"LOS ANGELES – The federal government will run a national advertising campaign to encourage more immigrants to become American citizens and become more integrated into society, officials said on Wednesday.

The multilingual effort aims to reach roughly 7.9 million immigrants who are eligible to file applications to naturalize but haven't done so. Many immigrants work, raise a family and go to school while holding green cards and only think about citizenship when they need to travel or abroad or when elections roll around and they can't vote, immigration officials said.

The campaign in print, radio and digital media that will run primarily in California, New York, Florida and Texas between May 30 and Labor Day aims to put citizenship in the forefront of people's minds and give them personal stories of immigrants who have naturalized.

"You've got to create that sense of urgency, and until they've reached that sense of urgency, they'll just coast," said Nathan Stiefel, division chief of policy and programs for the Office of Citizenship at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

It is the first time the immigration agency has launched a paid advertising campaign to promote American citizenship, said Mariana Gitomer, an agency spokeswoman. The effort — which will cost $3.5 million over three years — is part of an $11 million allotment by Congress to encourage greater immigrant integration.

Immigration experts say many immigrants don't apply for citizenship because they fear they don't speak English well enough or because they haven't felt a pressing need to do so.

About 64 percent of immigrants naturalize and it takes them on average nine-and-a-half years to apply to do so, Stiefel said.

The ad campaign includes portraits of immigrants born in China, Vietnam, Mexico, Dominican Republic and the Philippines who indicate they are "proud Americans" and share snippets of their personal stories starting a business, educating their families and even running for office."

That said, it would be better to have a push to get illegal aliens to take the steps needed to become legal. Perhaps this campaign will cause people to think about taking those steps as well.

The law does not allow it. Only green card holders can apply for citizenship. Anyone illegal in the country can only gain residence by via an amnesty program... and that wont fly through senate or congress nowadays.

Illegal immigrants can become legal by leaving the country and having their employer sponsor them for the appropriate type of work visa.

Illegal immigrants can become legal by leaving the country and having their employer sponsor them for the appropriate type of work visa.

I'm surprised they even care. So long as government gets its tax revenue, they couldn't care less. Don't have to be a citizen to pay taxes or be taxed.

I'm surprised they even care. So long as government gets its tax revenue, they couldn't care less. Don't have to be a citizen to pay taxes or be taxed.

US State Department Services Dual Nationality

The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a citizen of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own citizenship laws based on its own policy.Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. citizen parents may be both a U.S. citizen and a citizen of the country of birth.

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

However, dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries. Either country has the right to enforce its laws, particularly if the person later travels there.Most U.S. citizens, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport does not endanger U.S. citizenship.Most countries permit a person to renounce or otherwise lose citizenship.

Information on losing foreign citizenship can be obtained from the foreign country's embassy and consulates in the United States. Americans can renounce U.S. citizenship in the proper form at U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.