Many people around the world move from one place to another for a variety of reasons. This is known as migration, and the movement of migrants is the foundation of most modern nations. The term “immigrant” is generally used to refer to a person who has been granted the right to live permanently in a country other than the one in which they were born. People who have not been granted this status are referred to as nonimmigrants. The word has also been shortened to “migrant,” which is more commonly used in casual conversation.
There are a wide range of legal and practical definitions of immigration, with some countries having multiple different categories for people who can legally move to their country. In practice, the United States defines immigrants as people who are authorized to live and work in the country. This includes people who are granted asylum, refugees who have been granted protection from persecution in their home countries, and others who are brought to the United States for certain kinds of employment: “persons of extraordinary ability” in the arts, sciences, education, business or athletics; skilled workers with at least two years of training or experience; professionals with college degrees; specialized agricultural laborers; and a category for “others,” including foreign citizens whose families have settled in the U.S. or who are former employees of U.S. foreign service posts or members of the military.
The vast majority of immigrants say they are better off than their parents were at their age, and many expect their children to have even better lives. However, there are many immigrant groups that face significant challenges, including high levels of workplace and other discrimination, financial difficulties, confusion and fears about U.S. immigration laws and policies, and language barriers. These challenges are exacerbated by the intersectional nature of factors such as race and ethnicity, immigration status, income, and limited English proficiency.
More than seven in ten working immigrants report having jobs. In addition, over a third of working immigrants are self-employed or own their own businesses, and nearly half are in professions such as health care, sales and construction. Only a small percentage of working immigrants report having no job or being unemployed, which is similar to the share among U.S.-born adults.
About six in ten immigrants say they want to stay in the United States. The desire to remain varies by immigration status. More than two in three naturalized citizens and those with green cards or visas say they plan to stay, while less than half of the likely undocumented and lower-income immigrants say this.
Despite the fact that many of the world’s nations have long histories of migrating populations, the idea of immigration has become increasingly politicized in recent decades, with public opinion often reflecting a deep distrust of migrants and their alleged impact on wages and labor shortages. This has led to a polarization of public attitudes that makes it difficult for policymakers and community leaders to find common ground on immigration issues.