A person who moves to a foreign country with the intention of permanently settling there is known as an immigrant. The term is also used to describe people who are in the process of becoming legal residents or citizens, often going through a long and rigorous vetting process. Immigrants often research their destinations, explore employment opportunities and learn the language of the countries where they plan to live. However, not all immigrants are seeking safety or freedom from persecution. Some are simply interested in making more money, pursuing their dreams or building a better future for their families.
The majority of immigrants are from Asia, Mexico, and Latin America, although those from Europe make up the second largest group. The number of Americans born to immigrants has been increasing rapidly, and it is projected that by 2050 they will make up a third of the nation’s population.
Immigrants contribute to the economy in a variety of ways. In addition to bringing unique skills and perspectives, they are consumers who spend billions of dollars every year and add to local tax revenue. Additionally, many immigrants are entrepreneurs and create jobs for others.
The United States has a long history of immigration, with waves of new arrivals beginning in the 1600s. While the current immigration debate focuses on undocumented immigrants, it is important to remember that most immigrants are here legally and are contributing members of society.
Historically, people migrated to new lands in search of economic opportunity, religion or political freedom. While this motivation still exists today, the reasons for moving have changed. Those who seek asylum, for example, are fleeing violence or persecution in their homelands.
As a result, it is important to understand the different reasons for migration, as well as the positive and negative impacts that immigration has on labor markets and society.
While there are arguments that immigration has a negative effect on the wages of native-born workers, it is equally important to recognize the positive contributions that immigrants make to the economy. In fact, in 2021, households headed by immigrants had $1.3 trillion in collective spending power and contributed tens of billions to business revenues.
The ACLU works to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to the full range of their rights and that immigration laws are implemented in a fair and equitable manner. We work to educate communities about immigration policies and procedures and provide support to people who face discrimination or other injustices. We also work to make sure that conversations about immigration are grounded in facts rather than fear. To do this, we collect real-life stories from people who are in contact with immigrants as they work and struggle in our community and their journey to citizenship. These stories are an important part of the effort to change the conversation about immigrants and to make sure that New Yorkers know that they are welcome here, they are valued and that their voices count.