Glossary

AGGRAVATED FELONY 99 : A list of specific crimes and

categories of crimes. Noncitizens usually become ineligible to enter or remain in the U.S. for any reason or to qualify for almost all types of immigration benefits, including obtaining a green card or being naturalized to become a U.S. citizen if charged with this offense. They also become much more vulnerable to removal (deportation) from the U.S.

Criminal convictions in the past also count toward a decision about whether someone has committed an aggravated felony. The list, scope, and consequences of aggravated felonies have been vastly expanded over the years by Congress and by court decisions. In some circumstances, misdemeanors can count as aggravated felonies.

CITIZEN VOTING AGE POPULATION (CVAP): Citizens who are of eligible voting age (i.e., 18 years old and above in the U.S.).

HOUSING COST BURDEN: Households are considered to have a high burden when 30% or more of household income is spent on housing costs, which include rent and utilities.

LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENT (LPR): A person who has immigrated legally but is not an American citizen. This person has been admitted to the United States as an immigrant and issued an LPR card, commonly known as a “green card.” One is generally eligible to naturalize after holding LPR status for five years. Additional criteria, such as “good moral character,” knowledge of civics, and basic English, must also be met.

LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT (LEP): Persons who speak English less than “very well.”

LINGUISTIC ISOLATION: Defined as households that have no one age 14 and over who speaks English only or speaks English “very well.”

LOW-INCOME: Determined as people who fall below 200% of the income-to-poverty ratio, or an individual with income for the past 12 months who is less than twice the poverty threshold (e.g., the 2015 Census Bureau poverty threshold was $24,036 for a family of four with two children under age 18).

PER CAPITA INCOME: The mean income computed for all individuals in a particular group in the past 12 months. It is derived by dividing the total income of a particular group by the total population of that group.

POVERTY: A measure of income relative to the federal poverty threshold (the poverty line). Adjusted for family size, the 2015 Census Bureau poverty threshold was $24,036 for a family of four with two children under age 18.

REFUGEE: A person outside their country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

YOUTH: Persons under age 18.