Immigrants make up a diverse and vibrant part of our country. Their contributions are essential to the economy, and many have built up a solid foundation for future generations. Whether they came here as refugees fleeing violence or as skilled workers with valuable skills, immigrants have made a huge impact on the United States and its people.
Immigrant adults are more likely to say that their financial situation, education opportunities, employment, and safety have improved since moving to the United States. They also have higher expectations for their children than U.S.-born adults: about three in four immigrants say their children’s standard of living will be better than their own.
In focus group discussions, respondents were asked to describe in their own words what was the best thing that had come from moving to the United States. The most common answer was a better quality of life: people in the groups talked about finding jobs, building a good home, and having a high-quality education for their children. Having access to health care and a safe environment were also mentioned frequently.
For some immigrants, their experiences with discrimination and unfair treatment have lowered their sense of well-being. About one-third of Black and Hispanic immigrants and nearly half of Asian immigrants report being treated worse than people born in the United States in stores, restaurants, or other public places. This is compared with less than one-in-ten of White immigrants.
Despite these obstacles, most immigrants remain optimistic about their lives in the United States and are determined to work hard and improve their economic prospects for themselves and their families. About four-in-ten immigrants – and nearly six in ten of those who are unauthorized to work – say they would choose to move to the United States again if given the chance.
In 2022, 46.1 million immigrants lived in the United States, comprising 14 percent of the nation’s population. Most immigrants, about two-thirds, are foreign-born — that is, they were born in countries other than the United States — and most are naturalized citizens.
Those who are undocumented – that is, they live in the country without legal permission to do so – make up the remaining share of the population. Most of these people are working despite not having legal authorization to do so, and many have been here for decades.
The vast majority of immigrants (including those who are unauthorized to work) have at least a high school diploma or equivalent and speak English well enough to be functional in society. However, nearly half have not applied for citizenship, citing language and personal barriers as reasons. In addition, many immigrants do not know they are eligible to do so. The International Rescue Committee works to address the challenges that prevent people from achieving full citizenship in their adopted homes. Learn more about the process of becoming a citizen in the US here.