Civic Participation and Community Action Sourcebook

Appendix F

Rights of All Immigrants

All people in the U.S. have certain rights. It does not matter if you are a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident or undocumented. What are these rights?

Public school
Public elementary and high school education is available and required for all school age children.

Emergency
Any hospital emergency room, critical care unit, or intensive care unit cannot deny treatment for a very serious medical problem.

Immunizations
Free vaccinations are available for diseases such as tuberculosis, tetanus, and polio.

Testing and Treatment for Symptoms of Communicable Diseases
Free or low-cost testing and some treatment is available for infectious diseases such as AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, measles, tuberculosis, leprosy, diphtheria, and scarlet fever.

Nutrition Programs
Poor people have the right to free school breakfast and lunch; soup kitchens, community food banks, and other nutrition programs for adults and families.

Violence Prevention Programs
Counseling, advocacy, support groups and training on gangs, domestic violence, child abuse, and similar crises cannot be denied because of your immigration status.

Short-term Shelter and Housing
If there is space at a battered women’s shelter or homeless shelter, you cannot be turned away because of your legal status. All immigrants can also receive housing during a natural disaster (hurricane, floods).

Most Rights Guaranteed under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
This includes the right to practice whatever religion you want and to gather together with other people peacefully to request changes in the government. If you are arrested for a crime, you have the right to remain silent, get a free lawyer, talk to a lawyer before you answer any questions, and have a lawyer with you while you answer any questions.

All Rights in National and State Labor Law
This includes the right for most workers to receive at least minimum wage. Most services in government-funded clinics are free or low-cost for poor people.

What other rights do legal residents have? What rights do only U.S. citizens have? Reprinted with permission from Immigrant Rights: An ESOL Workbook, by Aliza Becker, Travelers and Immigrants Aid, Chicago, IL, 1997.

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