The U.S. created a new website WelcometoUSA.gov to help immigrants assimilate into their new communities. |
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Washington -- The United States is welcoming
legal immigrants with a new Web site that helps them find
such things as the requirements for naturalization, the
location of nearby English-language classes or a copy of
the U.S. Constitution.
WelcometoUSA.gov is a comprehensive site
aimed at helping newcomers learn about America’s civic
values and history, settle into their new communities and
take part in the life of the nation.
The Web site is one of several new initiatives
to help immigrants assimilate, said Emilio Gonzalez, director
of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), during
a June 12 press conference. Assimilation is one of the five
pillars of President Bush’s comprehensive immigration
reform plan, Gonzalez said.
In June 2006, the president created the
Task Force on New Americans, a multiagency effort to help
immigrants embrace core U.S. values such as freedom, equality
before the law and tolerance; learn English; and become
fully integrated into American life. Gonzalez serves as
executive secretary.
America wants legal immigrants to feel “as
welcome as the Founding Fathers,” he said, “and
our goal is to help them.”
WelcometoUSA.gov links to all federal government
resources for new immigrants as well as to some state agencies
and faith-based and community groups. There are also sections
on U.S. history and government, federal benefits, health
care and housing, education, child care, employment and
financial management.
One link focuses on volunteer opportunities
for both immigrants and U.S. citizens. “It is absolutely
imperative that we have a community network” that
can help immigrants and refugees get the services they need,
said Martha Newton, head of the Office of Refugee Resettlement
at the Department of Health and Human Services. “Volunteers
are integral to making this work.”
Immigrants also are encouraged to volunteer,
said Kathy Wills Wright, deputy director of USA Freedom
Corps, a White House initiative to expand community service
throughout America. “Volunteer service is a wonderful
way for newcomers to learn about and truly feel a part of
their new community,” she said.
In addition to WelcometoUSA.gov, the Task
Force on New Americans reaches out to immigrants through
the thousands of public libraries in the United States,
said Alfonso Aguilar, head of the USCIS Office of Citizenship.
More than 12,000 Civics and Citizenship Toolkits will be
distributed free to public libraries, and additional copies
will be available at nominal cost. Some educational materials
in the kits are for newly arrived immigrants while others
– such as a DVD on history and civics, and flash cards
with questions and answers about the American government
– are aimed at people studying for their citizenship
test. It also includes the Citizen’s Almanac, which
contains copies of fundamental documents of American democracy
and is presented to the roughly 700,000 people each year
who take the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens.
Aguilar said that in October, USCIS will
introduce a Web-based electronic training module for volunteers
and adult educators with courses on the naturalization process,
U.S. government and civics education. There also will be
eight regional training conferences for civics and citizenship
instructors and volunteers to help them teach immigrants
about their new home.
For more information, see Fact
Sheet: Task Force on New Americans, Visas
and Immigration and WelcometoUSA.gov.
See also: Citizen’s
Almanac Introduces New Americans to Nation’s Symbols.
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