Many U.S citizens neglect their civic duties and do not vote during local and national elections.  These people should remember that voting is a valuable privilege enjoyed in democratic societies.  Many countries do not afford this privilege to its citizens, or permit sham votes where there is only one party running, sometimes with one official on the ballot whose candidacy was picked by that same party.  As an American Citizen, you would have the opportunity to exercise your vote and elect an official that you feel will best represent your community. 

In addition to gaining the right to vote, an alien in the U.S. (irrespective of whether the person is a non-immigrant worker or a permanent resident) will only be fully protected by federal laws if naturalized as a U.S. citizen.  Every nation, including the U.S, has a right as a sovereignty nation to regulate its aliens, including permanent residents.  Thus, all aliens in the U.S face additional legal restrictions based on laws passed by the U.S. government and to some extent are dependent upon the political whims of the Congress and the President.  In this increasingly xenophobic era in which harsh penalties and regulations are placed on aliens, such as those enacted in the IIRIRA and the U.S Patriot Act, naturalization has become a necessity for those wishing to attain some measure of equal protection under the U.S Constitution and laws. 

Another important reason to become a citizen for many is that citizenship provides eligibility for some public benefits.  For example, if you are a permanent resident with a terminal illness and/or are over the age of 65, federal law restricts your right to SSI for a length of 7 years.  Subsequently, SSI and Medicare may not be available unless you become a naturalized U.S. citizen. 

Should you have any questions regarding your immigration matters, please contact the experienced immigration attorneys of Smith & Garg at 562-590-7300 or call our toll-free number at 877-517-4275.  You can also submit an inquiry through our Long Beach Immigration Online Inquiry.