Final answer:
The privileges available to legal immigrants in the United States do not include the right to vote or hold most public offices. Legal immigrants can apply to be naturalized as citizens after 5 years of residency and meeting several other criteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Legal immigrants in the United States have a number of privileges, but voting and holding public office are reserved for citizens only. Specifically, the correct answer to the student's question is option D: If they have reached 18 and spent 5 years in the U.S., they can request to be naturalized as citizens.
To be naturalized, legal immigrants must meet certain requirements such as being at least 18 years of age, being a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), having resided in the U.S. for at least five years, being physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months, demonstrating good moral character, and being able to speak, read, write, and understand the English language.
Therefore, options A, B, and C are incorrect. Legal immigrants cannot vote until they become citizens, they can be deported for breaking the law regardless of the time they've worked in the U.S., and only natural-born citizens are eligible to run for President.