Utah State Legislature

I have started emailing the legislature everyday. I am so upset about the immigration legislation that they are trying to pass through. Legislators keep coming on the news talking about how they just believe in the law and obeying the law... well, duh. They also say they believe in legal immigration but I would bet my entire tax return that they have no idea what is involved in legal immigration. Our experience with immigration has been horrendous! Everyone out there thinks that if someone from another country marries a US citizen, they automatically become a citizen themselves. Far from true. We have spent hours (4 hours, 3 hours, 1.5 hours... the farther along we get in the process, the less our wait has been) in that dirty waiting room in the INS offices in Salt Lake. At least now they let you have access to a bathroom. Things are really improving (sarcasm, my friends).

Immigration is so inflexible and puts so many obstacles in your way, for example, they have extreme requirements for pictures. A certain percentage of white space needs to show in the background and your face had to be at a 45% angle. You need a physical from their list of doctors that wouldn't accept our insurance. Always three years of taxes, birth certificates from the entire family, housing documents etc... and you have to take them every time. We have had to submit all of the crazy list of documents four different times. E has been fingerprinted at least five times since we have been married.

Now after over fifteen hundred dollars, eight years, interviews, documents, INS raids (at my in-laws while E was there visiting), picture taking and lots of waiting... it is now time for the citizenship test! His appointment is March 11th... we would love everyone's prayers, fasting, quizing E everytime you talk to him... anything you can do would be appreciated.

Just for fun, here are the citizenship test questions... I will post the answers later alligator, but if you can't wait the link will take you to the questions and the answers.

The following are sample U.S. History and Government
Questions that may be asked during the Naturalization Exam.

1. What are the colors of our flag?
2. What do the stars on the flag mean?
3. How many stars are there on our flag?
4. What color are the stars on our flag?
5. How many stripes are there on our flag?
6. What do the stripes on the flag represent?
7. What colors are the stripes on the flag?
8. How many states are there in the Union (the United States)?
9. What do we celebrate on the 4th of July?
10. Independence Day celebrates independence from whom?
11. What country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?
12. Who was the first president of the United States?
13. Who is the President of the United States today?
14. Who is the Vice President of the United States today?
15. Who elects the President of the United States?
16. Who becomes President if the President dies?
17. What is the Constitution?
18. What do we call changes to the Constitution?
19. How many changes, or amendments, are there to the Constitution?
20. What are the three branches of our government?
21. What is the legislative branch of our Government?
22. What makes up Congress?
23. Who makes the Federal laws in the United States?
24. Who elects Congress?
25. How many Senators are there in Congress?
26. For how long do we elect each Senator?
27. Name two Senators from your state.
28. How many voting members are in the House of Representatives?
29. For how long do we elect each member of the House of Representatives?
30. Who is the head of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government?
31. For how long is the President elected?
32. What is the highest part of the Judiciary Branch of our Government?
33. What are the duties of the Supreme Court?
34. What is the supreme law of the United States?
35. What is the Bill of Rights?
36. What is the capital of the state you live in?
37. Who is the current Governor of the state you live in?
38. Who becomes President if both the President and Vice President die?
39. Who is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
40. What were the original 13 states?
41. Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”?
42. Name some countries that were our enemies during World War II.
43. What was the 49th state added to our Union (the United States)?
44. How many full terms can a President serve?
45. Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.?
46. What are some of the requirements to be eligible to become President?
47. Why are there 100 Senators in the United States Senate?
48. Who nominates judges for the Supreme Court?
49. How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
50. Why did the Pilgrims come to America?
51. What is the executive of a state government called?
52. What is the head executive of a city government called?
53. What holiday was celebrated for the first time by American colonists?
54. Who was the main writer of the Declaration of Independence?
55. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
56. What are some of the basic beliefs of the Declaration of Independence?
57. What is the national anthem of the United States?
58. Who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner?
59. What is the minimum voting age in the United States?
60. Who signs bills into law?
61. What is the highest court in the United States?
62. Who was President during the Civil War?
63. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
64. What special group advises the President?
65. Which President is called the “Father of our Country”?
66. Which President was the first Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Army and Navy?
67. What was the 50th state to be added to our Union (the United States)?
68. Who helped the Pilgrims in America?
69. What is the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to America?
70. What were the 13 original states of the United States called before they were states?
71. What group has the power to declare war?
72. Name the amendments that guarantee or address voting rights.
73. In what year was the Constitution written?
74. What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
75. Whose rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?
76. What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
77. Who meets in the U.S. Capitol building?
78. What is the name of the President’s official home?
79. Where is the White House located?
80. Name one right or freedom guaranteed by the first amendment.
81. Who is Commander-in-Chief of the United States military?
82. In what month do we vote for the President?
83. In what month is the new President inaugurated?
84. How many times may a Senator or Congressman be re-elected?
85. What are the two major political parties in the United States today?
86. What is the executive branch of our government?
87. Where does freedom of speech come from?
88. What U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services form is used to apply for naturalized citizenship?
89. What kind of government does the United States have?
90. Name one of the purposes of the United Nations.
91. Name one benefit of being a citizen of the United States.
92. Can the Constitution be changed?
93. What is the most important right granted to United States citizens?
94. What is the White House?
95. What is the United States Capitol?
96. How many branches are there in the United States government?

As you can see, some of the questions are easy... but some are pretty challenging. They don't ask every question, but you have to know all of the information because you aren't sure what they will ask.

I think I have them all down except for the one that asks which amendments deal with voter rights. I just keep forgetting.

Anywho, the illegals who have risked their lives to get here and work here... they didn't do enter our country legally because they wouldn't be able to. They don't just give out visas (permission to enter our country) to anyone who applies. The illegals are here illegally because that is their only option. Most support their entire family from what they make here. If we tell people to just fill out the paper work and pay the hundreds/thousands of dollars to apply... they will be denied.

That is why I believe so strongly in a work permit program. And the application process for visas and citizenship needs a complete overhaul! But, back to my original point, the state can't fix those problems, they are federal problems. The state just wants to do something... but their ideas are inhumane. Part of Senate Bill 81 would make it illegal to rent a home or apartment to an illegal. We rent to murderers, rapists, drug users... but heaven forbid we rent to a good LDS family with little babies.

They also want to give police the ability to arrest someone for being illegal. Once the police have someone in custody, their immigration status can be checked. The new bill would allow police to arrest on the suspicion of illegality. They could arrest E and lock him up until I took in proof of legality. Please, he can't carry his green card. Do you know how often he looses things, if you lose it... you are out of luck. Also, the credit cards he carries get so dirty that the magnetic strip doesn't work. We can't risk ruining the green card, that I like to call the golden card, the card to rule all cards. It is beautiful and shiny with many holograms of USA-ish things... My precious, we worked so hard to get it!

Can you tell I am a little passionate about this issue? If you would like to write to the legislators let me know. It took me forever to get all 90 or so addresses into the email. But now that its done, I could just forward it to you.

God Bless the USA. We are lucky to live in such a choice land. Thank your lucky stars that you weren't born south of the border... you just might be losing your chance to go to college or drive or rent a place to live with your family. Just imagine...