In Brazil (where I live now, and unlike the United States) there's no pressure on legal permanent residents to become citizens. They can come and go from the country at will, as long as they aren't away for more than two continuous years. They have all the rights of Brazilians except the rights to vote, to hold office, or to work in the …
In Brazil (where I live now, and unlike the United States) there's no pressure on legal permanent residents to become citizens. They can come and go from the country at will, as long as they aren't away for more than two continuous years. They have all the rights of Brazilians except the rights to vote, to hold office, or to work in the civil and diplomatic services or the military officer corps, and there's no stigma connected to the status. Their children born in Brazil are natural-born Brazilian citizens. They CAN become citizens if they choose and can meet the requirements, the most stringent of which is a spoken, comprehension, reading, and writing control of the Portuguese Language at about the level of a graduate of a good high school; most don't bother, and suffer no repercussions.
It makes sense for me to see that kind of permanent residency extended in an amnesty to every illegal who has been in the US for a specified time, is not a public charge, passes a criminal background check, and whose taxes are up to date, with no penalty. To become eligible for citizenship, in addition to the above they should pay a fine and get in line, "in line" meaning that their applications would be processed along with those of legal applicants around the world whose applications are accepted on the same day.
Re: "Not a public charge." I agree with that. Contrary to the propaganda, most of the folks we're talking about are in no way a public charge. (New Zealand puts a $40k cap on public funds flowing to immigrants, even if they are married to citizens.)
I agree. The actual effect will probably be minimal -- every study I'm aware of indicates that immigrants whatever their category are usually some of the hardest working people around -- but there's a substantial and maybe meaningful number of people that will make that century-old language a hill that they're willing to die on. A big fight that's easy to avoid.
In Brazil (where I live now, and unlike the United States) there's no pressure on legal permanent residents to become citizens. They can come and go from the country at will, as long as they aren't away for more than two continuous years. They have all the rights of Brazilians except the rights to vote, to hold office, or to work in the civil and diplomatic services or the military officer corps, and there's no stigma connected to the status. Their children born in Brazil are natural-born Brazilian citizens. They CAN become citizens if they choose and can meet the requirements, the most stringent of which is a spoken, comprehension, reading, and writing control of the Portuguese Language at about the level of a graduate of a good high school; most don't bother, and suffer no repercussions.
It makes sense for me to see that kind of permanent residency extended in an amnesty to every illegal who has been in the US for a specified time, is not a public charge, passes a criminal background check, and whose taxes are up to date, with no penalty. To become eligible for citizenship, in addition to the above they should pay a fine and get in line, "in line" meaning that their applications would be processed along with those of legal applicants around the world whose applications are accepted on the same day.
Re: "Not a public charge." I agree with that. Contrary to the propaganda, most of the folks we're talking about are in no way a public charge. (New Zealand puts a $40k cap on public funds flowing to immigrants, even if they are married to citizens.)
I agree. The actual effect will probably be minimal -- every study I'm aware of indicates that immigrants whatever their category are usually some of the hardest working people around -- but there's a substantial and maybe meaningful number of people that will make that century-old language a hill that they're willing to die on. A big fight that's easy to avoid.