12 June 2007
New U.S. Web Site Helps Legal Immigrants Assimilate, June 12, 2007(WelcometoUSA.gov provides wide variety of information)
Washington – The United States is welcoming legal immigrants with a new Web site that helps them find such things as the requirements for naturalization to the location of nearby English-language classes.
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 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 integrated into American life. Gonzalez serves as executive secretary.
America wants legal, new 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.
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 immigrant students.
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.
