People all over the world make one of the most difficult decisions in life: to leave their home country and start a new chapter in their lives. Some will only move a few miles from their old neighborhood, while others will pack up their lives and move thousands of miles to another continent. For those who do choose to live abroad, there are many perks to doing so. America has a thriving culture, beautiful scenery, and excellent schools. It’s also a rich, developed nation that offers an abundance of jobs and career opportunities. It’s no wonder that this country attracts so many immigrants every year.
Immigrants work across a wide range of industries and occupations, from high-skilled science and engineering positions to low-wage service jobs and even some menial labor. They are disproportionately employed in occupations such as service (21.8 percent) and natural resources, construction, transportation, and material moving (14.2 percent), while native-born workers dominate management, professional, sales and office, and other occupations that require advanced education or specialized skills.
Despite the often-harsh rhetoric of presidential politics, immigration is a critical part of our economy and the American way of life. It helps keep our workforce growing at a healthy rate and reduces labor shortages. In addition, it drives innovation and economic growth by filling key sectors of the economy that would otherwise remain in short supply without immigrants.
In addition, immigrants help reduce poverty and increase economic opportunity for all Americans by providing valuable tax dollars that support government services and social programs. These benefits, as well as a strong work ethic, have made America the most popular destination in the world for immigration.
However, there are many concerns about the impact of immigrants in America. For example, some are worried about crime and terrorism committed by immigrant communities. Other worries focus on the health of immigrant populations, including their mental and physical health. In some cases, immigrants may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression as a result of their pre-migration experiences.
As the world’s oldest and most populated democracy, the United States has a long history of immigration. Each wave of new immigrants has shaped the U.S. in some way, from the political systems to the language and food that we now enjoy.
Currently, nearly half of all Americans are descendants of immigrants, and the number is constantly growing. While most immigrant families originated in Europe, the number of incoming immigrants from Latin America and Asia has recently increased. This change reflects a shift in the global balance of power and the changing priorities and needs of the developing world. In addition, the current American political climate has led to an increased hostility towards certain immigrant groups. This is particularly true for those who are perceived as threatening to “American” culture and traditions. In the past, there was widespread fear that Irish and German immigrants, for example, would not assimilate into American society. This led to rioting in the Kensington section of Philadelphia by Pennsylvanians who blamed Irish and German immigrants for high property taxes and poor quality of life in their neighborhoods (Archdeacon 1983). Fortunately, this type of behavior has not been common since the enactment of a more restrictive immigration policy in 1924.