DHS revamping immigrant welcome materials, set to include Obamacare

01/31/2013

Caroline May


The welcome materials the federal government directs new immigrants to read — which detail, among other facets of American life, how and where to get government benefits — are in the process of getting a bit of a makeover to increase accessibility for newcomers.

The WelcometoUSA.gov website, which bills itself as “the U.S. Government’s official web portal for new immigrants,” maintained by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), will soon feature information about President Barack Obama’s signature health care legislation, USCIS spokesman Chris Bentley told The Daily Caller.

USCIS has already added new promotional banners to the site that make it easier for users to find information about personal finance, child care and emergency information. The agency is working to make the language even more accessible to its target immigrant audience.

According to a list of changes to the “Welcome” site that the department has already made, provided to TheDC by USCIS, many of the changes are simplifications of the original text.

For example, where the “Government Benefit” section once read:

“Depending on your immigration status, length of time in the United States, and income, you may be eligible for some federal benefits programs. Government assistance programs can be critically important to the well-being of some immigrants and their families. Frequently, however, there is a lack of information about how to access such benefits. Benefits programs can be complicated and you may be given misleading information about how they operate,” followed by a list with links of government benefit websites such as Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, and a site offering information on eligibility for all federal benefits programs.”
The “Government Benefit” section now reads:

“Depending on your immigration status, length of time in the United States, and income, you may be eligible for some federal benefit programs,” followed by the list of benefits programs.
The text on the front page of the site has also been significantly reduced. Initially the text read:

“Welcome to the United States! On behalf of the President of the United States and the American people, we welcome you to this great nation. The United States has benefited from the contributions of immigrants since its founding more than 200 years ago, and we are certain that our newest immigrants will continue this storied legacy. Freedom and opportunity are of the utmost importance in the United States and we wish you the very best as you begin your journey. As a permanent resident, you have made the decision to call the United States your home. It is now your responsibility to learn about this country’s civic values, its rich history, and its citizens. As you settle into your new home, WelcometoUSA.gov will help you find basic information about the United States and your new community. The Federal Government has a variety of resources for you. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about this country as you are now a valued part of our nation. Your contributions will help ensure the success of the United States for years to come. Congratulations and welcome. We hope you enjoy great success in the United States.”

It now says:
“Welcome to the United States! On behalf of the President of the United States and the American people, we welcome you to this great nation. The United States has benefited from the contributions of immigrants since its founding more than 200 years ago. As you settle into your new home, WelcometoUSA.gov will help you find basic information about the United States and your new community.”

The project to revamp the website started in spring of 2012 and will be finished in the next couple of weeks, according to Bentley.

Also included in the makeover will be the guidebook new immigrants are encouraged to read, “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants.”

Read more: DHS giving new immigrant welcome materials a makeover | The Daily Caller