Sunday, August 1, 2010

Citizenship Interview - Entrevista de Ciudadania.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6575784965278422987#

This link has a video of a sample of a citizenship interview. I am including here the transcript and translation so that it may help you better understand it and study the questions for your interview.

Este enlace contiene un video de ejemplo de la entrevista de ciudadania. Estoy incluyendo aqui el guion y la traduccion para que tal vez pueda ayudarles a entender mejor y a estudiar las preguntas para su entrevista.


Are you …? -
Eres tu …?
Please raise your right hand.
Por favor levanta tu mano derecha.
Do you swear to tell the truth?
¿Jura decir la verdad?
Please have a seat. Por favor siéntense.
May I see your green card and Passport?
¿Puedo ver su tarjeta de residencia y su pasaporte?What is your full name?
¿Cuál es su nombre completo?
Where were you born?
¿Dónde nació?
Do you wish to change your name today?
¿Desea cambiar su nombre hoy?
Would you like your full name in your certificate of citizenship?
¿Quiere su nombre complete en su certificado de ciudadania?
Yes that will be fine.
Si eso esta bien.
How did you come to this country?
¿Cómo vino a este país?
I was petitioned by my mother.
Me pidio mi mama.
when did you become a permanent resident?
¿Cuándo se convirtió en residente permanente?
I have been a permanent resident since…
Yo he sido residente desde…
What is your birthday?
¿Cuándo es su cumpleaños?
I was born on…
Yo naci el…
How tall are you?
¿Qué tan alta es?
I am 5 feet 6 inches.
5 pies y 6 pulgadas.
When was the last time that you travelled outside the United States?
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que viajo fuera de los Estados Unidos
The last time I traveled was in 2008.
La ultima vez que viaje fue en el 2008
And where did you go?
¿y a donde fue?
Did you stay outside the country for more than six months?
¿Se quedo por fuera por más de 6 meses?
No, I was gone for two months.
No, yo me fui por dos meses.
What other trips did you take in the last five years?
¿Qué otros viajes hizo en los últimos cinco años?
What is your address?
¿Cuál es su direccion?
Are you currently employed?
¿Está en el momento empleada?
Yes, I work at…
Si, yo trabajo en...
Are you married?
¿Está casada?
Is your husband a US citizen?
¿Es su esposo un ciudadano de los Estados Unidos?
How many times have you been married?
¿Cuántas veces ha estado casada?
Only once.
Solo una vez.
Do you have children?
¿Tiene ninos?
Where does she live?
¿Dónde vive?
Have you ever claimed to be a United State citizen?
¿Alguna vez a dicho ser ciudadano?
Have you ever registered to vote in the United States?
Se ha registrado para votar?
Do you pay your taxes?
¿Usted paga sus impuestos?
Have you ever been in a mental institution?
¿Ha estado en una institución mental?
Have you ever been a member of the Communist party?
¿Ha sido miembro del partido comunista?
Have you ever been a member of a terrorist group?
¿Ha sido miembro de un grupo terrorista?
Since becoming a permanent resident have you ever called yourself a non-resident on any tax return?
Desde que se convirtio en residente permanente, alguna vez ha reclamado ser no-residente en la declaración de impuestos?
I’m sorry, I didn’t hear. Could you please repeat the question.
Lo siento, no escuche, podría repetir la pregunta?
Did you ever called yourself a non-resident in your tax return?
alguna vez ha reclamado ser no-residente en la declaración de impuestos?
Have you ever committed a crime for which you have not been arrested?
Ha cometido algún crimen por el cual no la han arrestado?
Have you ever been convicted of a crime or offense?
Alguna vez la han arrestado por un crimen u ofensa?
Have you ever been to jail?
Ha estado en la cárcel?
Have you ever been a prostitute?
Alguna vez ha sido una prostituta?
Have you ever had a problem with alcohol or drugs?
Ha tenido alguna vez un problemas de drogas o alcohol?
Have you ever helped anyone to enter the country illegally or lied to a government official?
Alguna vez ha ayudado a alguien a entrar el país de manera ilegal o le ha mentido a un oficial del gobierno?
Have you ever been deported, removed or excluded from the United States?
Alguna vez ha sido deportado o removido de los Estados Unidos?
Have you ever served in the US armed forces?
Ha servido en las fuerzas armadas?
Do you support the constitution and form of government of the United States?
Apoya usted la constitucion y forma de gobierno de los Estados Unidos?
Do you understand the full oath of allegiance to the United States?
¿Entiende todo el juramento de fidelidad?
What is the Oath of Allegiance?
¿Qué es el Juramento de Lealtad?
It means that I am loyal to this country and if there were a war I will fight for it.
Significa que yo soy leal a este país y que si hubiera una guerra yo pelearía por él.
If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States?
Si la ley lo requiere, ¿está dispuesto a portar armas por los Estados Unidos?
If the law requires it, are you willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction?
Si la ley lo requiere, ¿está dispuesto a realizar trabajo de importancia nacional bajo dirección civil?

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Open letter to Republican Senators about Immigration Reform

I come to you to make my case for you to contribute to the approval of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

The first point I want to make is regarding President Ronald Reagan. It seems he is an admired president among the Republican community. He signed measures that brought economic prosperity to the country. He was also the president that had the guts to pass an immigration reform.

People say that the amnesty approved with that bill brought an explosion of new immigrants. Well, it could also be said that the economic prosperity that followed opened new jobs and opportunities and there were not enough people here to cover those jobs, and so it was the economic prosperity what brought new immigrants. Recession times have shown a decrease in immigrants. Do we want economic prosperity or do we want recession? Immigrants are a sign of economic health.

11 million illegal immigrants are, as expected, a diverse group of people. 10% work in management positions. I imagine this is comparable to the citizen population. There are many illegal immigrants that hold college education degrees. Some of these higher educated people could be illegal because they overstayed their visas, and some of them live here since they were children and went through the education process in United States. They didn’t have access to scholarships, but they were able to get private loans and are now professionals working in corporate America, but still illegal.

There are several lies distributed by extremist in the Internet and other media to denigrate the immigrants. I imagine you, being intelligent people, base your decisions in real numbers, real facts and not in biased rumors with no support, but nevertheless, so we speak in the same language, here some clarification to 3 or 4 facts.

Some people say that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes. You should know that 80% of Texas revenue comes from sales taxes and property taxes, and illegal immigrants cannot avoid those taxes. They also buy lottery and pay all kinds of fees for transactions such as buying a car, or renewing car stickers. The only tax item in discussion is income tax. Illegal immigrants get their income tax deducted from their paychecks if they work for a company, even when they use a fake id. The small group that receives cash payments may opt to report or not such income, just as much as any citizen would. It is in the best interest of the illegal immigrant to report any income in order to prove his legal behavior once he has an opportunity to legalize his situation, so many do. So, as you see, more than 90% of any government taxes and fees are paid by illegal aliens, just as much as citizens do.

Some people complain that illegal immigrants have lots of babies. That is probably true. At least, as a group, they have higher fertility rates. This could also be a good thing. Here a quote from Time magazine: "Between now and 2030, demographers forecast the E.U. will have lost 13 million -or almost 4%- of people ages 15 to 64. Meanwhile, the number of people over 65 will increase by more than 40%. On a continent where the fertility rate is well below 2, these questions arise: Who will make up the workforce? Who will care for the disproportionate number of elderly citizens?" Shouldn’t we make sure the people that are the future, the people that will take care of us when we are old, are at least legal?

Some people say that illegal immigrants are criminals, or that they overpopulate the prison system. In reality, according to the U.S. department of justice only 94,498 inmates are non-citizens, which make less than 1% of the illegal immigrant population. I imagine that is around the same proportion of criminals in the citizen population. Most people are good people. So we should go after that small part that are real crooks and not after common good people.

Being illegal is being outside the law; we understand that clearly, and that is the main issue in discussion. Different crimes have different punishments according to gravity and how they affect other people. So it is important to reason how grave is for a person to work, pay for his own expenses, contribute to the economy, and pay taxes. Should that person be outside the law at all? Of course, there should be a process to legalize the situation. People should and are willing to pay a fine for their transgression, but if they are otherwise law abiding, hard working people, needed in their jobs, they should be able to get a path to legalization.

Some people say that illegal immigrants take jobs that would otherwise go to legal workers. But undocumented workers also create demand that leads to new jobs. They buy food and cars and cell phones, they get haircuts and use legal services, they watch television and cable, and they generate big business for many companies.

Some people say that illegal immigrants are a burden for Social Security and Medicare funds, but in reality they don’t even receive any services from those areas while they contribute about $7 billion per year into Social Security.

Overall, as demonstrated here, most illegal immigrants contribute to society and function for all purposes as any citizen of US.

You know some measurers make no-sense. Some people suggest sending 11 million people back to their countries of origin, but you know that is not possible. 11 million people are 2 huge cities emptied out. Do you imagine the disruption that such imaginary possibility might bring? Plus the moral burden of such dictatorial exodus? Especially since their only crime has been to respond to a call for workers that the country needed.

Other measures like the wall in the border don’t make sense, since 40% of illegal immigrants entered the country with valid visas. The Arizona law SB 1070 is a desperate attempt supposedly against the violence and drug trafficking situation, but those complex problems need much deeper action than racial profiling.

So we know we have to confront reality as it is and contribute to the dialogue and solution, because we are all part of the same reality.

People came here because they were invited. They were invited directly, with ads placed in Mexican and other countries’ media at different times by different industries, such as meat packers, salmon fisheries, or even the military to attract needed workers. They were invited indirectly when the opportunities were here and they were available and ready to fill those posts. Immigration laws should respond to the needs of the industry. If workers are needed, establish a path so that those workers could legally be part of the building of America.

Contributing to the approval of Comprehensive Immigration Reform could be in your political benefit. A big proportion of Hispanic people voted for Bush. They share with the Republican Party some religious beliefs, the respect for life, the drive for prosperity, but they also share with you a big respect for family. So that is why immigration reform is a big issue for them, because it touches their families and close friends. A big proportion of illegal immigrants that can legalize their situation through comprehensive immigration reform would probably become Republican followers if they see their beliefs and expectations supported by the people in charge.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform will mean to get some extra funds from fines and fees that people will have to pay in their way to legalization. It will also mean that any funds spent so far in this limbo of illegality can be dedicated better to solve real problems, to fight terrorists and drug dealers, instead of wasted in harassing common good people. We will have 11 million less imaginary problems, 11 million more people contributing to America, as they have done so far.

Sources:
10% in management
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States#Number_of_illegal_immigrants
40% are overstay
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/jul/12/luis-gutierrez/democratic-rep-gutierrez-says-40-percent-illegal-i/
Illegal immigrants are estimated to pay in about $7 billion per year into Social Security.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_impact_of_illegal_immigrants_in_the_United_States
Only 94,498 inmates are non-citizens
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/pim09st.pdf

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Para aprender Ingles en Houston

113 lugares para aprender ingles gratis en Houston. En la lista del enlace van 65, pero tambien les tengo las de Houston Community College (33) y las de Lonestar College (15)

http://www.hcde-texas.org/default.aspx?name=AdultEducation

Los recursos existen por todas partes, solo hay que buscarlos.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Texas Government 101

Thanks to Stephanie S. Simpson, Executive Director of the Texas Prosperity Project for this information.

The legislature is composed of two legislative bodies “bicameral".
Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate has term limits.

The Texas Constitution sets the qualifications for election (House & Senate):

Senate: (31 members)
A senator must be at least 26 years of age
A citizen of Texas five years prior to election
A resident of the district from which elected one year prior to election
Serves a 4-year term
One-half of the senate is elected every two years in even-numbered years
*All 31 senate seats will be up for election in 2012 (following the census to reflect redistricting)

The Lieutenant Governor (David Dewhurst), is elected statewide separate from the Governor (Rick Perry). Lt. Gov presides over the Senate

House of Representatives: (150 members)
Must be at least 21 years of age
A citizen of Texas for two years prior to election
A resident of the district from which elected one year prior to election
They are elected for two-year terms, running for re-election in even-numbered years
The Speaker of the House (Joe Straus) is elected from that body by its members

The Legislature meets in regular session on the second Tuesday in January of each odd-numbered year. They will go back into session in January 2011. The Texas Constitution limits the regular session to 140 calendar days.

Both the Lt. Gov. & Speaker of the House have wide latitude in choosing committee membership (in their respective houses)
Both have a large impact on lawmaking in the state

Governor:
Only the Governor may call the Legislature into special sessions (in other states, the legislature can call a special session)
The Governor may call as many sessions as he/she wishes
The Texas Constitution limits the duration of each special session to no more than 30 days
*Lawmakers may consider only the issues designated by the Governor during a special session

Other issues may be added by the Governor during a special session

Sunday, April 25, 2010

About immigration

I was fortunate enough to have a degree and to be able to apply for residency because of the need for bilingual teachers. But I do not consider my work any more valuable than the guy that cuts the grass or clean the tables. So, if I was needed and I had an opportunity to be legal, they are also needed and they should have an opportunity. And they don't.

I do not think all the doors should be wide open, but I think the laws should correpond to need. 11 million people are not here living for free on welfare and 11 million people are not criminals (a few are but most are not). They are hard working people doing things that are needed and should be appreciated here. So I think specific regulations should be passed to recognize their presence and contribution to economy and history.

Regulations should be strict with employers because (I saw a movie about butchers) they even invited actively in newspapers in Mexico for people to come. But if workers are needed for the economy, workers should be recognized.

I am ok with regulations. Waiting time, proper requirements. Let's say no criminal background of any kind. Let's say those that have been here more than 10 years. Let's say those who have paid taxes and worked all the time. You know, those details. But do something.

Leaving them in the shadows is taking advantage of them, and then spiting them out when they are not useful anymore. That is not correct.

And what are you going to do with 11 million people? Force them out? A new racial Exodus? I just hope people recognize illegal immigrants are already part of this country, their neighbors, people like them, and something unfair is going on.

***

Yo tuve la fortuna de tener un titulo universitario y poder obtener la residencia debido a la necesidad de profesores bilingues. Pero no considero my trabajo mas valioso que el trabajo del hombre que corta el prado o la persona que limpia las mesas. Entonces, si a mi me necesitaban y me dieron la oportunidad de legalizar mi situacion por esa necesidad, ellos tambien son necesarios y deberian entonces tambien tener a oportunidad, y no la tienen.

No estoy diciendo que deberian abrir las puertas y dejar entrar a cualquiera, pero si creo que las leyes deben corresponder a la necesidad. 11 millones de personas no estan viviendo aqui de gratis de los recursos del estado, 11 millones de inmigrantes no son criminales (unos pocos son, pero no la mayoria). La mayoria son gente trabajadora haciendo cosas que son necesarias para el pais y que deben ser apreciadas como tales. Entonces yo creo que se deben pasar reglamentaciones que reconozcan su presencia y su contribucion a la economia y a la historia del pais.

Esta bien que haya reglamentacion. Tiempo de espera. Digamos que sean personas que no tengan record criminal. Digamos que sean personas que hayan vivido aqui mas de 10 anios. Digamos que sean personas que siempre hayan trabajado y pagado sus impuestos. Tu sabes, esos detalles. Pero que se haga algo.

Dejarlos en las sombras es aprovecharse de ellos y luego desecharlos cuando ya no son utiles. Y eso no es correcto.

Y que se va a hacer con 11 millones de personas? Obligarlos a que se vayan? Ocasionar un nuevo exodo racial? Yo solo espero que la gente reconozca que los inmigrantes ilegales son ya parte de este pais, son sus vecinos, gente como ellos, y que esta situacion es algo injusto.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Yes-no questions from N400 - Las preguntas de contestar si o no en la N400

Do you support the Constitution and form of government of the United States?
¿Usted apoya la constitución y la forma de gobierno de los Estados Unidos?
Do you understand the full Oath of Allagiance to the United States?
¿Entiende el juramento completo a los Estados Unidos?
Are you willing to take the full Oath of Allegiance to the United States?
¿Está usted dispuesto a tomar el juramento de lealtad completo a los Estados Unidos?
If the law requires it, are you willing to bear arms on behalf of the United States?
¿Si la ley lo requiere, está dispuesto a portar armas a nombre de los Estados Unidos?
If the law requires it, are you willing to perform non combatant services in the US armed forces?
¿Si la ley lo requiere, está dispuesto a llevar a cabo servicios no combativos en las fuerzas armadas de los E.E.U.U.?
If the law requires it, are you willing to perform work of national importance under civilian direction?
Si la ley la requiere, está dispuesto a realizar trabajo de importancia nacional bajo dirección civil

Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?¿Ha cometido un crimen u ofensa por la que no le arrestaron?
Have you ever been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason?
¿Alguna vez le han arrestado, citado, o detenido por cualquier razon?
Have you ever been charged with committing any crime or offense?
¿Le han acusado de cometer un crimen u ofensa?
Have you ever been placed in an alternative sentencing or a rehabilitative program?
¿Le han condenado a un programa de rehabilitación?
Have you ever received a suspended sentence, been placed on probation, or been paroled?
¿Ha recibido una sentencia condicional, le han colocado en libertad condicional, o paroled?
Have you ever been in jail or prison?¿Ha estado en la cárcel o prisión?
Have you ever been a drunkard?
¿Ha sido un borrachín?
Have you ever been a prostitute, or procured anyone for prostitution?
¿Ha sido prostitut@, o ha procurado a alguien a la prostitución?
Have you ever sold or smuggled controlled substances, illegal drugs, or narcotics?¿Ha vendido o las sustancias, las drogas ilegales, o narcótico controladas pasadas de contrabando?
Have you ever been married to more than one person at the same time?
¿Ha estado casado con más de una persona al mismo tiempo?
Have you ever helped anyone enter or try to enter the United States illegally?
¿Ha ayudado a cualquier persona a entrar o tratar de entrar en los Estados Unidos ilegalmente?
Have you ever gambled or received income from illegal gambling?
¿Ha jugado o recibido ganancias de juegos ilegales?
Have you ever failed to support your dependents or to pay alimony?
¿Ha dejado de apoyar a sus dependientes o pagar alimentos?
Have you ever given false or misleading information to any U.S. Government official while applying for any immigration benefit or to prevent deportation, exclusion or removal?
¿Ha dado información falsa o engañosa a oficial del gobierno de los E.E.U.U. mientras solicitaba alguna ventaja de inmigración o para prevenir la deportación, exclusión o retiro?
Have you ever lied to any U.S. Government official to gain entry or admission into the United States?
¿Ha mentido a algún oficial del gobierno de los E.E.U.U. para entrar o ser admitido en los Estados Unidos?
Have you ever been removed, excluded, or deported from the United States?¿Le han sacado, excluido, o deportado de los Estados Unidos?
Are removal, exclusion, rescission, or deportation proceedings pending against you?
¿Existen órdenes de retiro, exclusión, rescisión, o deportación pendientes contra usted?
Have you ever been ordered to be removed, excluded, or deported from the United States?
¿Le han ordenado ser excluido, o deportado de los Estados Unidos?
Have you ever applied for any kind of relief from removal, exclusion or deportation?¿Ha solicitado alguna vez cualquier clase de relevo, retiro, o exclusión de la deportación?
Have you ever served in the U.S. Armed forces?
¿Ha desempeñado servicios en las fuerzas armadas de arma de los E.E.U.U.?
Have you ever left the United States to avoid being drafted into the US armed forces?
¿Ha salido de los Estados Unidos para evitar ser elegido en las fuerzas armadas de los E.E.U.U.?
Have you ever applied for any kind of exemption from military services in the US armed forces?¿Ha solicitado cualquier clase de exención de servicios en las fuerzas armadas de los E.E.U.U.?
Have you ever deserted from the US armed forces?
¿Ha abandonado las fuerzas armadas de los E.E.U.U.?

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Support Health Reform - Apoyemos la reforma de salud.

60% bankruptcies due to medical bills... isn't this reason enough to support health reform?
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/05/bankruptcy.medical.bills/

El 60% de las bancarrotas se deben a las cuentas medicas que los ciudadanos sin seguro deben pagar... no es esta razon suficiente para apoyar la reforma de salud?