Rights and Responsibilities

General Rights & Responsibilities

• You must learn and know the laws.

• Everyone who lives in the United States has basic civil rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and the freedom to peacefully assemble.

• You can work in the United States.

• Citizens can vote in elections.

• Job discrimination is illegal in the United States. No one can refuse to give you a job because of your race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

• Public services and benefits are available to those who are eligible for them.

• If you break the law, your immigration status could be affected.

• You can move to a new community.

• If you move to a new home, you must fill out an USCIS change of address form.

• Men between 18 and 25 years of age must register for the Selective Service.

• You need to pay your own income taxes. You must fill out and send an income tax form to the government every year. You can fill out the form yourself or find someone to help you.

• You must have a driver’s license and insurance to operate a vehicle.

• People in the United States may not drink or buy alcohol until they reach the age of 21.

• Parents must learn legal ways to discipline their children.

• It is illegal to leave children without adult supervision.

The United States Refugee Admissions Program. CORENav. (2021, November 23). Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://corenav.org/en/programs/cultural-orientation/rights-and-responsibilities/

U.S. Laws

Because the United States is governed by the rule of law, there are many laws that Afghan Allies need to know. You are responsible for knowing the laws and understanding what may happen to you if you break them.

In the United States, you can be punished if you break the law, even if you did not know about the law you broke. The penalty for some offenses may be deportation (return) to your home country. For this reason, it is very important to learn and obey the laws.

There are three kinds of laws in the United States:

Federal laws, such as the laws against drug trafficking, apply to every person living in the United States.

In North Carolina residents must be at least 16 years old to obtain a driver's license.

Local laws apply in a particular city or town. City and town ordinances (ordinances are laws for cities and towns) are linked below. These might include laws about noise or parking your car.

Protection against Discrimination

U.S. law prohibits discrimination, though the details of anti-discrimination laws vary from one state to another. If you are discriminated against or denied your rights because of your race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, you have the right to seek legal action.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty

If you are accused of a crime in the United States, you are considered innocent until you are proven guilty. You have the right to a lawyer, who will represent you in court. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will pay for one to represent you.