Learning the Rules Together: Stories and Resources to Help Newcommers Understand U.S. Laws
By: Muzhgan Saeedi
Acknowledgments: Interviews were conducted with permission and names have been anonymized to protect privacy.
When immigrants come to the United States, they often bring deep hopes for safety and stability—but also face the challenge of navigating an unfamiliar legal system. Many newcomers, especially refugees, are unfamiliar with everyday rules and regulations that can affect their finances, benefits, or even legal status. While immigrants are less likely to commit crimes, Occasionally, common everyday laws are broken due to misunderstandings or misinterpretations. For these Afghans it can result in fines, being a victim of scams and the loss of public benefits.
A Parking Misunderstanding
Six months after arriving in the United States, Safora, a newcomer in Philadelphia, faced an unexpected lesson about local rules. She had an appointment at Einstein Hospital and parked her car nearby, unaware of the parking restrictions in that area.
When she returned from her appointment, she found a paper slip tucked under her windshield wiper. “At first, I didn’t even know what it was,” she said. Later, a friend who spoke English explained it was a parking ticket—she had parked in a space reserved for people with disabilities.
In Afghanistan, Safora explained, such parking designations are rare and not widely enforced. “I didn’t know this rule existed,” she said. “It was the first time I realized how small details can have big consequences here.”
Since then, she has made it her mission to learn about local laws—from traffic rules to recycling regulations—by attending community orientation sessions and asking questions at local newcomer centers. “It’s better to ask or search online before doing something new,” Safora said. “Now, I always check signs carefully.”
The Job Offer That Was Too Good to Be True
A few months after arriving in the United States, Farid, a newcomer looking for work, received an unexpected phone call. The caller claimed he had been selected for a job but needed to provide his bank information to purchase a computer for training.
Excited by the opportunity, Farid shared his banking details immediately. Days later, his bank account was frozen. Bank officials suspected fraud, and after an investigation, it became clear Farid had fallen victim to a scam.
Though they are illegal, scams can be quite common in the United States. Primarily scammers contact people through email, phone calls and social media. Oftentimes, they will be impersonating government agencies, banks, charities or large companies. In order to prevent the chances of falling for a scam always be skeptical when receiving messages from unknown callers, research companies, never transfer over money and use multifactor authentication.
Farid said the experience was terrifying. “I thought I was in trouble, that I did something wrong,” he recalled. “But the police said this happens to many people—even Americans.”
He now warns others: “Never share personal or bank information with strangers. Always check the company’s website or talk to someone you trust before giving any details.”
The Cost of Not Reporting Income
About a year after arriving in the United States, Ahmad was working two jobs—one at a store and another driving for Uber. He reported only his store job income on his tax documents, thinking his freelance Uber earnings were too small to matter.
Months later, he received a letter from the government requesting an interview. Officials had discovered his Uber income through tax records. In the United States, all income, no matter how small, must be reported.
As a result, his public benefits—such as SNAP (food assistance) and Medicaid (health coverage)—were temporarily cut off. His bank accounts were also reviewed.
Authorities later determined there was no intent to deceive, so he was not required to repay benefits. But the experience was a wake-up call.
“I realized honesty and accuracy are very important here,” Ahmad said. “I now report every dollar I earn.”
Public benefits in the U.S. come with strict eligibility requirements. Even unintentional errors in income reporting can lead to suspension or permanent loss of assistance programs. For many low-income newcomers, that can mean months without access to food or healthcare support.
Additional Resources: Learning the Law in a New Country
Understanding every U.S. law can be challenging — even for citizens. But newcomers can take small steps to learn the basic rules that shape daily life. Here are a few places to start: