Although immigrants in the US may not have the same rights as US citizen, every immigrant in the US still does have rights to ensure safety. If you are an immigrant in the US, it is important to know your rights and how to protect them. Knowing this can help keep you safe and can ensure that you can navigate the US immigration system more smoothly.
One of the most basic rights in the US refers to human rights, the basic rights which are available to all residents of the US. These rights include the right to peacefully gather, the right to free speech, the right to be free from discrimination, and other rights protected by the US Bill of Rights and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. These rights may apply to immigrants even if they are not legally in the US. These rights can protect an immigrant from being arrested and held without cause, for example, and can protect immigrants from being discriminated against based on religion or race. These rights cannot be removed. That is, even if you break the law, you cannot have all your civil rights compromised or revoked.
Immigrants who are in the US legally have other rights as well and are more protected than undocumented workers. For example, those who are in the US on a visa have the rights outlined by that visa. If your visa allows you to work in the US, you have the right to seek work in the US, as outlined by your visa terms. If your visa allows you to remain in the US, you can remain for as long as your visa permits you to. Unlike basic civil rights, however, it is important to remember that rights granted by USA immigration authorities can be revoked. If you commit a crime or violate the terms of your visa, for example, your visa could be revoked and you could be asked to leave the country. Your rights can also vary depending on the authorization given to you by US immigration.
If you are in the US on a nonimmigrant visa, you may have only certain rights Ú such as the right to live in the US for a specific period of time. If you have a green card, you have the right to live and work permanently in the US but you do not have the right to hold office or vote. If you have US citizenship through naturalization, you have all the rights of someone born in the US Ú you can live and work in the US, run for office, vote, take part in the armed forces, and more.
If you are a US immigrant, it is important to remember that while you may have rights, it is not guaranteed that others will always respect your rights. If you feel that your rights as an immigrant have been violated, consult with a qualified US immigration attorney. He or she can help immigrants who may be facing rights violations.