Settling in America

These words are on a plaque inside the base of the Statue of Liberty in NewYork Harbor. They were written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. Her family came to the United States from Portugal.

Lazarus’ poem was meant as a welcome for people coming to America — people who wanted to be free, who had to leave their native lands, and who had traveled a long way.

The Mini Page celebrates Citizenship Day, Sept. 17, by exploring immigration.

America’s immigrants

Immigrants are people who come to a new place to live permanently. Most experts agree that the earliest immigrants to North America probably came across a land bridge between northeast Asia and Alaska about 13,000 years ago. These people are believed to be the ancestors of Native Americans.

Since then, at different times, large groups of people have come to North America from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.

In fact, even if you and your parents were born in the United States, your family may be able to trace its roots to another country.

Why immigrate?

Immigrants have come to the United States for many reasons. Some were looking for land to farm or better jobs. Others wanted to freely practice their religion, or they were unhappy with the government in their homeland.

Today, immigrants may be trying to escape harsh governments or military organizations in their home countries. In some parts of the world, people are persecuted, or treated in a harmful way, because of their religion or race.

Immigration’s effects

Immigration adds a lot to the culture of a nation. People from other countries bring new ideas, customs, foods and languages to our communities.

But immigration also puts pressure on a country. Sometimes it’s difficult for people of different backgrounds to get along. Added people can strain a nation’s resources, such as energy, water and food supplies, housing, jobs, health care and education.

Becoming a citizen

If a lawful permanent resident wants to become a citizen, he or she must apply for

naturalization. The U.S. government will check the immigrant’s history and make sure he or she is eligible.

Naturalized citizens have the same rights and responsibilities as native citizens, except they cannot be president of the United States.

Solving a problem

Some immigrants arrive in the U.S. illegally. In other words, they come into the country without permission, called a visa, from the government.

The problem of illegal immigration is a big one that presidents and Congress have not been able to solve. Recently, you may have heard about families being detained, or held, on our border with Mexico after trying to enter the U.S. illegally. This is just one part of the problem.

Lawmakers have many different ideas about how to solve our immigration issues, from building a wall on the border between the U.S. and Mexico to refusing to allow any immigrants at all.

It will take a lot of cooperation and creative new ideas to solve this challenge for our country.

These immigrants became citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., in 2015.

Give poor, me your tired, your Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

A former member of the U.S. Air Force cooks Thai food at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Emma Lazarus 1849-1887

photo courtesy USGS