citizenship!

[M.L]

I have a friend who know a person that moved from Sweden to USA. After living there for some years he decieded to become an american citizen. So when he applied for it he had to anwer some questions.
One of these questions was: Have you ever been a member of a leftist movement?

I mean, is that question entitled?
What has that to do with everything?
Is it so they can keep track of all the socialists that may move in to the country or what?

I'm not certain that this is the right place to place this thread, excuse me if it isn't.

[che's long lost daughter]

Was your friend actually a member of a leftist movement? If he is and he answered yes, did that prevent him from being granted the citizenship?

[monkeydust]

Correct me if I'm wrong but a friend told me that to emigrate to the U.S. you need to passs a sort of 'point system'. Certain questions being ask to validate your 'worth' as a citizen. I would imagine answering yes to the above question would have a negative impact upon one's chances to move there.

[M.L]

I don't know what he answered. I can find out.

I don't know about that pointsystem, but i can ask her about it if she knows anything.

[Inti]

I wouldnt have any problem answering those questions, but I think that question would be irrelevant for getting a citizenship.. dont think I would like to have an US citizenship anyway.. Im leaning more on living in south america one day.
I have never been a member of a movement either way, but if it would be any it would be to the left, unless che lives would qualify for being a leftist movement.. I wouldnt be shy saying that I am a member.. What would they do? Deny me citizenship? Their loss.. lol.. I think we should erase borders, countries and such... We are one race and we should be one big nation or perhaps not nation even.. But thats utopia.. sadly..

[Iepilei]

When my mom's friend from the UK tried to apply for US citizenship, they asked her if she had been affiliated with any "leftist or communist parties." When she replied, "no," the pulled a file on her with a picture of her taken at a French Communist Party banquet (she was invited to) several years earlier.

[Hampton]

Ask the Patriot Act:

Finally, section 411 of the USA PATRIOT Act punishes speech protected by the First Amendment, even of lawful permanent residents, resurrecting the discredited McCarren-Walter Act, adopted at the height of McCarthyism, which barred non-citizens from this country on the basis of their advocacy of Communism. The USA PATRIOT Act permits immigrants to be found "inadmissible" for advocacy that the Secretary of State determines undermines our anti-terrorism efforts. Section 411, amending INA section 212(a)(3)(B). The advocacy does not have to meet the test adopted by the Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444, 449 (1969) (advocacy can be banned only if it represents "incitement to imminent lawless action"). Under this section, a lawful permanent resident who makes a controversial speech could potentially be barred from returning to his family after taking a trip abroad.

Link (http://archive.aclu.org/congress/l102301h.html)

[M.L]

I wouldnt have any problem answering those questions, but I think that question would be irrelevant for getting a citizenship.
Of course it most mean something, why else ask?



When my mom's friend from the UK tried to apply for US citizenship, they asked her if she had been affiliated with any "leftist or communist parties." When she replied, "no," the pulled a file on her with a picture of her taken at a French Communist Party banquet (she was invited to) several years earlier.
What happened then? Did they do anything special? She most have had to answer a few more question when they caught her lying!

[EneME]

Thats strange..my family was never asked that when we became citizens and we came from a place where there were tons of Leftists fighting a guerrilla war....
I think the only things they asked were you know, personal things of who you're married to and things like that. And stuff about US History and the government....
Maybe it has something to do with European Immigration?

[DeadMan]

My friend immigrated from Lebanon. When he became a Canadian citizen, he mentioned that they asked him some serious questions about his country and his views. He is now 18, he immigrated when he was 13-14. My guess is alot of government do this to protect themselves, although I don't see the threat itself in declaring yourself 'Communist'.

DeadMan.

[Iepilei]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2004, 06:58 AM
What happened then? Did they do anything special? She most have had to answer a few more question when they caught her lying!
She had to explain the situation to them. She was invited by the person who was hosting the event (who wasn't affiliated with the CP, rather who did this as it was their job) and she had to prove she had no ties to the CP in Europe.

I think they don't question Latin-based immigrants because the US automatically assumes you're fleeing the combatants (and not taking part in it). So, in some weird sense, they percieve it as less of a threat. However, European communists may have suspicious intentions (as I know many Greek immigrants are harshly questioned on these matters).

[praxis1966]

I think it mostly has to do with your country of origin. I have a Polish friend who's mother was a former member of the communist party in Poland as well as an active member of their youth organisation when she was young. They asked her similar questions and gave her a pretty hard time when she answered honestly, but ultimately allowed her in. That was, however, before 9/11 and the Patriot Act; back in the mid-90s. I'm sure questions like these now carry more weight in light of the current political climate.

[Fidel Castro]

Who in their right mind wants to live in the world capital of corruption, economic injustice and crime for anyway????

[Stapler]

America is a Right-Wing country, their politics are dominated by rich, Right-Wing people. The class distinctions in America are huge, yet politicians fight to retain those distinctions. Anybody who has ever been part of a leftist movement is not welcome in a country dominated by the rich, who would be forced to flee, or reduce their standard of living if there ever was a strong left in the country. Example: Mr. Bush's Tax cuts for the higher tax brackets.

[Zanzibar]

Question?

Why whould you want to move to American from Sweden!?!!

[allixpeeke]

<<One of these questions was: Have you ever been a member of a leftist movement?>>

They should also ask: “Have you ever been a member of a Reactionary movement?”

As for leftist movements, I’m not sure if you would necessarily define this as leftist or not, but I’m definitely a Feminist.


Does anybody have a list of the other questions one would be asked?

<<America is a Right-Wing country,...>>

I disagree. Sure, there are some extremely conservative people here, but there are also some extremely liberal people here, too. All-in-all, I’d say it evens out as a fairly centralist nation. It’s the leaders that are more conservative, so persons assume this is a reflection on the whole of America, which it isn’t.

<<Why whould you want to move to American from Sweden&#33;?&#33;&#33;>>

I’d have to check out the laws there, and the functions of their justice system. For now, though, I’m quite content living here in America.

However, if the country keeps moving in the direction it’s moving in, with the Patriot Act, and limitations on Civil Liberties, there may come a point when I want to “excape”.

~~~alex.

SIDE NOTE: The Libertarian stance on immigration is to eliminate all restrictions. See here (http://www.lp.org/issues/platform/platform_all.html#immigrat).

[Zanzibar]

Originally posted by [email protected] 9 2004, 07:45 AM
I disagree. Sure, there are some extremely conservative people here, but there are also some extremely liberal people here, too. All-in-all, I’d say it evens out as a fairly centralist nation. It’s the leaders that are more conservative, so persons assume this is a reflection on the whole of America, which it isn’t.
America isn&#39;t a centrist nation. Canada is, America is not.

Additionaly liberalism is not left wing wing, it asserts the privelege the bourgouise. Anything right of socialist is my enemy.

[Ian]

What I&#39;d be interested in looking up is if the question the Swedish person was asked is a remnant of the days when Joe Hill was around and a lot of Swedish migrants were busy unionising the railroads or wherever they worked. It&#39;s probably not, but it&#39;d be interesting.

[M.L]

He, the Swede did answer NO bacuse he hasn&#39;t been a member of any leftist group. I don&#39;t know about Joe Hill but this person i know moved some 5-6 years ago, if it&#39;s to any help&#33;?

Why he moved to America from Sweden i&#39;m not quite sure but i think a lot of his friends and relatives moved to America.

[Felicia]

of course they wouldn&#39;t vulutarily give commies citizenship...... that would be guaranteeing one less vote for the republicans :P

[Commie Girl]

:( What? The U&#036; is centerist? The people supposedly elect their leaders, and you have a right-winged nut for a leader, so, yes, that is how you are viewed in the world. I still am trying to understand why ANYONE would voluntarily immigrate to the U&#036;

[bubbrubb]

that question is bullshit. i fhe answered yes and it counted against him id be really mad if i was him that should have nothing to do with him becoming a citzen <_<

[M.L]

that question is bullshit. i fhe answered yes and it counted against him id be really mad if i was him that should have nothing to do with him becoming a citzen
No it shouldn&#39;t but apparently it does. They aren&#39;t asking such a question for nothing. And if you answer yes i guess they do some research on you or something like that to be certain that you aren&#39;t to influencial, or so that you aren&#39;t a radical&#33;?
But if you are a radical i guess you answer NO on such a question, just to be certain to be allowed to enter the country :P