Immigrants are people who move to a new country from their home country for a variety of reasons. They can be refugees who have been forced to leave their homes by war, persecution or other reasons and who are granted legal entry into another country (with or without a visa) to live in peace and with safety and security, or they may have come to work in a particular industry, such as agriculture, construction or leisure and hospitality. The term is sometimes used to refer to migrants who are illegally in the United States, either through overstaying their visas or crossing the border.
The United States has a long history of accepting foreign-born residents, but the immigration landscape is changing rapidly and creating a lot of tension and controversy. It’s important to understand the context of immigration and how it has shaped our country.
Immigration is a complex issue and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Many immigrants want to bring their families along and contribute to society, but the process can take years, often resulting in family separation. Many have endured a lengthy and difficult journey, in extreme conditions, to get here. They must learn a new language and adapt to a very different culture. They have a great deal of resilience to overcome these challenges and make themselves at home in their new country.
Some immigrant groups have been more visible in the United States than others, including refugees and asylum seekers, but all are vital to our economy. In addition to paying taxes (property, sales and payroll) and contributing to the local community, these workers help fill labor shortages in a wide range of industries, such as construction, agriculture, manufacturing and leisure and hospitality.
In recent decades, the number of immigrants has grown significantly. Today, the foreign-born population in the United States stands at 44.8 million, or 13.7% of the total population. This number has more than quadrupled since the 1960s, when the Immigration and Nationality Act took effect. It is projected to almost double by 2065.
The vast majority of the nation’s immigrants are legally here, with more than a third having been naturalized U.S. citizens. The share of native-born Americans with at least one migrant parent is much smaller, but they still represent the largest segment of the American population. In 2019, households headed by immigrants paid $1.3 trillion in collective spending power, after-tax income, and contributed tens of billions more in business revenue. These figures are based on data from the Census Bureau’s decennial census and its annual American Community Survey. The decennial census and the American Community Survey are the primary sources for these so-called stock estimates. Other sources include the Department of Homeland Security for flows, or how many people enter and leave the country during a given year.