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Basic Questions on U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization

Description: U.S. citizenship is conferred at birth under the principle of jus soli (nationality of place of birth) and the principle of jus sanguinis (nationality of parents). The U.S. Constitution states as a fundamental rule of jus soli citizenship that "all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." The exceptions to universal citizenship comprehended by the requirement that a person … more
Date: March 3, 1992
Creator: Eig, Larry M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Haiti: Efforts to Restore President Aristide, 1991-1994

Description: This report tracks the efforts to restore to office President Aristide of Haiti between the years 1991-1994. During this period, the main U.S. foreign policy concern was the restoration of the democratic process to Haiti. Closely related to this was the issue of Haitians attempting to flee to the United States by boat. Congressional concerns focused on human rights, Haitian migration, socioeconomic conditions, and drug trafficking.
Date: May 11, 1995
Creator: Taft-Morales, Maureen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: Reasons for Growth, 1981-1995

Description: Legal immigration to the United States has increased sharply in recent years, and shows no signs of slowing down. The question of why immigration has grown so rapidly and the implications of this growth for the future are expected to be issues in the 105th Congress. Primarily because of legislation enacted in 1980 and 1986, the numerical restrictions of the basic family and employment-based immigration preference system became less significant. The growth in legal immigration during the past 15… more
Date: February 12, 1997
Creator: Vialet, Joyce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Central American Asylum Seekers: Impact of 1996 Immigration Law

Description: This report discuses issues related to the significant portion of the Central Americans affected by the IIRIRA revisions still have asylum cases pending and may obtain legal permanent residence by that avenue if they demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution. The Attorney General also has the discretionary authority to grant blanket relief from deportation, but the discretionary forms of relief do not entail legal permanent residence. There is considerable interest in this issue in the 105… more
Date: November 21, 1997
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alien Eligibility for Public Assistance

Description: This report details the changes in public assistance policy that the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. It established new restrictions on the eligibility of legal immigrants for designated means-tested public assistance, and also broadened restrictions on public benefits for temporary workers and people on work or school visas.
Date: December 18, 1997
Creator: Vialet, Joyce C.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alien Eligibility for Public Assistance

Description: This report discusses the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which affected alien eligibility for federal, state, and local government assistance programs, both imposing and broadening restrictions on a number of immigration benefits and programs.
Date: December 18, 1997
Creator: Vialet, Joyce & Eig, Larry M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: Adjustment to Permanent Residence Status under Section 245(i)

Description: Under § 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, an alien in the U.S. who, on the basis of family relationship or job skills, becomes eligible for permanent resident status may adjust to that status in the United States without having to go abroad to obtain an immigrant visa. Historically, only those aliens who were here legally (e.g., as a student or a temporary skilled worker) could adjust status under § 245. In 1994, however, Congress enacted § 245(i). That provision, which was set to exp… more
Date: February 4, 1998
Creator: Eig, Larry M. & Krouse, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: Visa Waiver Pilot Program

Description: The Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP) allows aliens traveling from certain designated countries to come to the United States as temporary visitors without having the immigration documents normally required to enter the United States. Some maintain it fosters international travel to the United States and eases the workload of the consular offices abroad. Others observe that it by-passes the most important screening step of who is permitted to enter the United States, cautioning that it may inadve… more
Date: March 18, 1998
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: The “H-2A” Temporary Agricultural Worker Program

Description: In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand fr… more
Date: April 9, 1998
Creator: Vialet, Joyce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration: The "H-2A" Temporary Agricultural Worker Program

Description: In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand fr… more
Date: April 9, 1998
Creator: Vialet, Joyce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration-Related Provisions of Selected Bills on Religious Persecution

Description: This report analyzes immigration-related provisions of H.R. 2431, the “Freedom from Religious Persecution Act,” as passed by the House on May 14, 1998, and S. 1868, the “International Religious Freedom Act,” as introduced in the Senate.
Date: June 4, 1998
Creator: Eig, Larry M. & Vialet, Joyce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Naturalization Trends, Issues, and Legislation

Description: Report discussing the processes by which immigrants can become U.S. citizens and various problems that impede the process: "This report analyzes the trends in naturalization, discusses the controversies and issues, and tracks the legislative proposals to reform the naturalization process" (Abstract).
Date: June 24, 1998
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Puerto Rico: A Chronology of Political Status History

Description: This report outlines the chronology of the political status of Puerto Rico. In 1952, Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory since 1898, became a commonwealth. Since then at least three significantly different political status options have been offered by the three major political parties in Puerto Rico. On March 4, 1998, the House passed H.R. 856, a bill to address the political status of Puerto Rico, by a vote of 209-208. On June 23, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held an oversight h… more
Date: June 24, 1998
Creator: Laney, Garrine P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Food Stamp Benefits for Legal Immigrants in P.L. 105-185

Description: The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA; P.L. 104-193) established significant new restrictions on the eligibility of legal immigrants, or "qualified aliens," for needs-based public assistance.' Previously, legal immigrants were eligible for public assistance on much the same basis as citizens. Food stamp eligibility will be provided for approximately 250,000 legal immigrants under P.L. 105-185, the "Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Ref… more
Date: June 30, 1998
Creator: Vialet, Joyce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Immigration Fundamentals

Description: This report describes the fundamentals of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which was enacted in 1952 and significantly amended since, most recently by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996.
Date: July 2, 1998
Creator: Vialet, Joyce
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Alien Eligibility for Public Assistance

Description: This report discusses the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which affected alien eligibility for federal, state, and local government assistance programs, both imposing and broadening restrictions on a number of immigration benefits and programs.
Date: July 22, 1998
Creator: Vialet, Joyce C. & Eig, Larry M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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