Immigration Vocabulary

Words that describe people immigration - the process of coming into

a foreign country to live
immigration
immigrant- a person who comes to a new
immigrant country to live
emigrant emigrant- a person who leaves a country
or region to live elsewhere
migrant
migrant- a person who moves from one
refugee
country, place or locality to another

refugee- a person who flees for safety

especially to a foreign country

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persecution- system of continued

harmful or cruel treatment and
discrimination of a group of people

poverty- the state of being poor

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open door- a policy of giving equal

Words that describe why
immigrants leave their homeland
persecution
poverty
opportunity for immigration to all
people from different countries
nativism- a policy of protecting the
interests of native inhabitants against
those of immigrants
stereotype- common beliefs about a
group of people that are based on
generalizations

assimilate- to take something in and

make it part of a group, country or
 community, rather than remaining in a
separate group

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authorities- persons having powers of

government

exclusion- to shut or keep out

quota- a number limit on how many

Words to describe American people can come to a country
attitudes towards immigrants

open door alien- a person who is a citizen of

another country, not the one s/he is
nativism living in

stereotype detain- to hold or keep someone in a

waiting situation as if in a prison
assimilate
deport- to force a person who is not a
citizen of a country to leave

undocumented- without proof or

Words used when talking
about laws on immigration
support with legal documents

authorities temporary- lasting for a short period of

time; not permanent
exclusion
permanent- lasting for a long period of
quota time

alien asylum- a country that acts as a place of

safety for a person who is being
detain discriminated against in their homeland

deport amnesty- the granting of a pardon, or

forgiveness, with no penalty by a
undocumented government to a large number of people

temporary visa- a mark on a passport that is a sign

of approval and permission for a
permanent traveler to enter a country

asylum
amnesty green card- a card that identifies the
holder as a foreigner with permanent
visa resident status in the U.S.

green card reunification- the bringing of people

together after being separated for a
reunification long time
border security border security- defending the borders
of a nation through guard patrol and
guest worker physical barriers

guest worker- a foreign worker who is

permitted to enter a country
temporarily in order to take a job for
which there is a shortage of domestic
workers