Teaching American Laws to Immigrants, Refugees

If you teach English as a second language or if you are a case worker or volunteer working with refugees or immigrants, you probably have noticed a newcomer who demonstrates a lack of knowledge about some laws in the United States that are possibly different from the newcomer's home country. You may have found that it comes as a great surprise to the newcomer that the rules are so very different here for instances involving drugs, alcohol, domestic violence and child abuse.

These four areas are of the utmost importance for immigrants and refugees to understand as they begin their lives in the United States. Here are a few talking points that should probably be covered during conversations and orientations with immigrants and refugees. Refugee resettlement agencies most likely cover these points during orientations with refugees, but reinforcement from ESL teachers and volunteers can help newcomers learn these laws.

Drugs: After explaining what they are, it is beneficial to tell young people they don't have to be pressured into taking them. If a person feels pressured to take them, feel that they are a release from stressors, etc., there are mental health services in the community that can help. Refugees and immigrants may not wish to talk about mental problems as there is a cultural stigma associated with them in a lot of cases. It should be emphasized that it is not so in the United States. Police departments likely have a wealth of resources available to the public on drug abuse prevention, and there are several resources online developed for different audiences as well.

Alcohol: Alcohol is not illegal to use in the United States, but drinking alcohol in a public place, and being drunk in public are. Buying alcohol for people under the age of 21 is illegal, and it is illegal to consume alcohol if a person is under 21 years of age. These latter two points are often the most difficult for newcomers to grasp as the laws surrounding alcohol usage in the U.S. are often very different than they are in other countries. They must be stressed, however, as alcohol laws are often strictly enforced in the U.S.

The purchase and use of tobacco by those only over the age of 18 is another surprising area of law for many newcomers. This should be stressed in conjunction with alcohol purchase and use.

Domestic Violence: Women and men do not have to endure physical, emotional, or verbal abuse in the United States. There is help for those who wish to leave domestic violence situations. Physical violence in the home should be particularly stressed. It is not acceptable in the United States, and those abused have the right to bring charges against their abusers. There are shelters and other social assistance available to help as well. Abusers should understand the cultural stigma against abuse of spouses in the United States, as this practice is often common in some other countries and cultures.

Child Abuse: Child abuse is a grey area in a lot of ways, but there are a few definite points that can be covered with immigrants and refugees to help them stay within the bounds of the law. In cultures where children are watched by an entire community, it may be perfectly safe to leave children alone to play outside for hours on end. In the United States, things are not so. No one will likely take responsibility for someone else's children's behavior. Refugees especially may not understand the importance of watching their children themselves. There are new dangers of which they may not be aware (i.e., cars driving fast in an apartment parking lot, kidnappings, etc.). Spanking children to the point of leaving marks is not acceptable, and it is illegal. This is important for newcomers to understand as well. It should also be pointed out that car seats are mandatory for infants (and small children in some places), and it could be considered neglect not to use them.