4 ms·

As a point of order, is a non-citizen the same thing as a legal immigrant? I assume legal-immigrant means one has obtained citizenship.

• nybble41 5y ago
  > I assume legal-immigrant means one has obtained citizenship. How do you classify a non-citizen Green Card holder? Or someone here on a work visa? Legal immigrants usually don't start out as citizens from the moment they arrive. Obtaining citizenship is a long process. In the meantime they are still residents, and taxpayers, and ought to have a say in decisions which will affect them.
• dragonwriter 5y ago
  > As a point of order, is a non-citizen the same thing as a legal immigrant? No, noncitizens include nonimmigrants in legal status and aliens in illegal status. > I assume legal-immigrant means one has obtained citizenship. No, it does not. In US law an “immigrant” is an alien present in the US other than one legally admitted under a designated nonimmigrant status. A citizen is just a citizen.
• dahfizz 5y ago
  You can come to America (and most countries, I imagine) on a work visa, student visa, etc without becoming a citizen. These people are now able to vote in New York. I think the confusion is around the term "immigrant". I agree that immigration implies a permanent move - i.e. you become a citizen of where you are immigrating to. However, I think most people (and media) use "immigrant" as a catch-all for someone who currently lives in country X but was not born there.
• infamia 5y ago
  "Legal immigrant" just means you're in the country legally, which in addition to naturalized immigrants (i.e. new citizens) includes permanent residents (i.e. green card), student/work visas, spouse/fiancé visas, etc.