The primary fear in people’s minds concerning immigration status is the possibility of arrest and deportation. The first line of defense against this possibility is obtaining proof of American citizenship or legal permanent residence status.
People could achieve citizenship in many ways. The first is proving a birth in the United States. A copy of a birth certificate could verify this claim. People could also obtain citizenship by passing the citizenship test. Finally, citizenship could be the product of a parent’s immigration status. Having a parent with U.S. citizenship could automatically confer citizenship on a child.
Similarly, having legal permanent residence, or a green card as it is commonly called is another shield against deportation. It is essential that these people carry their formal identifications at all times and to remember that most forms of green cards require recertification every ten years. Determining a person’s status as a U.S. citizen or green card holder is an essential first step in establishing immigration rights.