Immigration questions
True or False
A visa does not give permanent permission to stay?
True
When the visa expires, the person must either leave the country or apply for a new one.
Someone who has already been approved for protection before entering the United States.
A refugee
Why might someone choose to immigrate legally instead of temporarily visiting?
To live and work permanently in the country
To join family members already living there
To have legal protections and stability
To eventually apply for citizenship
To avoid problems like visa expiration or deportation
Why do we need the Bill of Rights?
Protect individual liberties
Police stop Jordan on the street and take his phone. Without asking permission or getting a warrant, they start looking through his text messages.
Which amendment might protect Jordan from this search?
4th Amendment
Protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures
Police usually need a warrant to search a phone
A person who lives in the United States without legal immigration status is called?
An undocumented immigrant
A U.S. company wants to hire Maria as an engineer. What immigration pathway would be best?
Employment-based immigration
Why do you think refugee protections exist?
To help people escaping danger or persecution
To support basic human rights
Because many countries have agreed to international protection laws
To provide safety for people who cannot return home
List 3 freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment. (Bonus 100 points if you can name all five)
Speech, Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition
A teacher hears that a student may have brought drugs to school and asks the principal to search the student’s backpack.
Does the principal need a warrant?
Most likely not.
4th Amendment applies in schools but they only need a "reasonable suspicion," not a warrant.
A person has lived in the United States for many years with a green card but has not become a U.S. citizen.
Lawful permanent resident (LPR)
Luis comes to the United States with a tourist visa that allows him to stay for 6 months. After the visa expires, he continues living in the U.S. for two more years.
What immigration issue has Luis committed?
Overstayed visa / expired visa / they are now undocumented
Why do you think countries have immigration laws?
To control who enters and stays in the country
To protect national security
To manage population and resources
To create fair and organized ways for people to immigrate
To support economic needs, like workers with certain skills
What does the Second Amendment protect?
The right to bear arms
Police arrest Marcus and start asking him questions about a robbery. Marcus says he does not want to answer any questions.
Which amendment protects Marcus’s right to remain silent?
5th Amendment
Protects against self-incrimination
Also known as the right to remain silent
Refugees and asylum seekers are different from most immigrants because they are primarily seeking this.
What is safety or protection from danger?
Sofia’s brother is a U.S. citizen and files paperwork so she can immigrate to the United States and receive a green card.
Does this satisfy family-based immigration?
Yes!
Only because her brother is a U.S. citizen and not a green card holder himself.
Why do you think some people choose to stay in a country after their visa expires instead of leaving?
Job opportunities
Family already living in the country
Fear of returning to their home country
Better education or living conditions
Difficulty getting another legal visa
A student at a private school wears a shirt that says "I Hate This School" and the school said she is not allowed to wear that.
Is this a violation of her 1st Amendment?
• The First Amendment only restricts the government, and private schools are private organizations.
Police pressure someone for hours and threaten them until they finally admit to a crime.
Which amendment might be violated here?
5th Amendment
Confessions must be voluntary
People cannot be forced to incriminate themselves
This government department is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and removal decisions.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Ali leaves his country because the government threatens him for speaking out against political leaders. After arriving in the United States, he asks the government for protection.
What type of protection is Ali applying for?
Asylum
If you were creating immigration laws for a country, what rule(s) would you include and why?
Limits on how many people can immigrate each year
Priority for family members
Priority for workers with certain skills
Special protections for refugees
Security checks or background checks
What Amendment states you have a right to attorney?
6th Amendment
A police officer asks Taylor, “Do you mind if I search your car?” Taylor says “Sure,” and the officer searches the car.
Did the officer violate the 4th Amendment?
No
A search is allowed if a person gives consent