There are also “Lawful Permanent Residents” (Green Card Holders).
You can live your whole life in the U.S. legally and never become a citizen.
Green cards have to be renewed every ten years.
Lawful permanent residents are persons lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who have the right to reside, work, study, and own property. They may serve in the U.S. military and apply to become naturalized U.S. citizens once they meet the citizenship eligibility requirements. Just over 1 million people received green cards in 2015 with Mexico being the number one nation getting Lawful Permanent Resident status, China being number 2 and India s number 3.
If people are here legally, then they can do whatever our laws permit. While I don’t necessarily have a problem with that, I do want our citizens to get first dibs at jobs or anything else.
Those that contribute to the system are those who should get first dibs.
The green card holders are “supposedly” temporary.
BTW: I think they have to sign up every six years. Further, if they have been her for six years, I believe the law allows for them to seek citizenship.