Fraternity-Testvériség, 1964 (42. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1964-02-01 / 2. szám
FRATERNITY 15 378. San Jose, Calif._ 637.24 379. Hollywood, Calif._ 780.76 380. Cleveland, O.____ —.— 383. Rural Valley, Pa.____ —.— 384. Renton, Pa.______ 148.71 385. San Bernardino, Calif. _ 568.77 386. Cincinnati, O.____ 238.31 388. Lakeland, Fla.___ 117.00 390. Hudson Valley, N. Y. _ 112.56 391. Ontaria, Calif.----------- 813.44 392. New Orleans, La._____ 25.23 393. Peoria, 111. __________ 78.30 394. Dallas, Tex._________ 95.94 395. Cleveland, O.________ 129.70 Total_____________$119,299.53 Washington, D. C. Paul St. Miklossy, Jan. 10, 1964 Treasurer CAN I BE DENIED CITIZENSHIP AND EVEN DEPORTED FOR ONCE BEING A PUBLIC CHARGE? Question: I want to apply for citizenship, but someone tells me I can never be naturalized because I was once a public charge. It is true that about two years after I came here, I had an accident and received free care in a city hospital. My friend says that if the immigration authorities learn about this, they will not only refuse me naturalization, but will have me deported. Is this true? Answer: No. First, as to deportation, the mere fact that you received free medical care does not necessarily mean you became a public charge. Only where a city or state makes a charge for such service and demands payment, and there is a failure to pay, can a person be considered a public charge. And even if a person has been a public charge, he is not deportable on that ground unless he became a public charge within five years after entry from causes existing at the time of entry. Since your hospitalization was due to an accident in this country, it was obviously not the result of a cause existing at the time of your entry. As to naturalization, there is nothing in the law which prohibits a person^ who has accepted public assistance from becoming a citizen. The acceptance of public assistance by a person who is actually able to pay fór it might, of course, be held to indicate a lack of the good moral character required for naturalization. This is not, presumably, your situation. The acceptance of free care under the circumstances you outline should in no way prejudice your application for naturalization. If an alien, who IS deportable as a public charge, applies for naturalization, the Immigration and Naturalization Service might very well institute deportation proceedings against him. The law provides that no petition for naturalization will be heard by a naturalization court if deportation proceedings are pending against the applicant.
