People from around the world are on the move, searching for better opportunities for themselves and their families. For many, the choice to leave home is a risky one, but an essential one in pursuit of happiness and prosperity.
Immigration has been a vital part of the American experience since its inception, contributing to economic, political and social development. It has contributed to the dynamism of America’s economy, fueling rapid growth and providing a supply of labour for industries such as agriculture and manufacturing (Hirschman and Mogford 2009).
Immigrants also contribute to tax revenues, contributing more than a trillion dollars as consumers and creating millions of jobs through their purchasing power. In 2019, households headed by immigrants paid an estimated $3.4 billion in federal and a combined $2.27 billion in state and local taxes, primarily through their spending power. Additionally, 3.2 million immigrant entrepreneurs in the United States generate tens of billions of dollars through their business income.
While there have been a number of high-profile immigration scandals, most Americans support the general principles of legal and family-based immigrant admissions. The country is currently experiencing its highest levels of immigration since record-keeping began in 1820, with the most recent surge occurring over the past decade (Keely 2010).
Most immigrants come to the United States legally, either by becoming naturalised citizens or obtaining lawful permanent resident status after a long process of bureaucratic and administrative approvals. The remaining small percentage of foreign-born residents are in the country on temporary visas such as those for international students, diplomats and their families, seasonal workers and others.
A key challenge for immigrants is the assimilation into a new society. This is a complex, time-consuming process and it can be difficult to achieve. Especially when the immigrant community is culturally, religiously and ethnically diverse. Many immigrants are reluctant to share aspects of their culture with the wider population, as they see themselves as preserving important cultural traditions for future generations.
Despite this reluctance, the overwhelming majority of immigrants want to fully integrate into society and work hard to become productive members of American society. Many have sacrificed the familiarity and comforts of their home countries to pursue a life in a new land, often having to overcome significant language barriers and a lack of professional skills.
As a result, the vast majority of American communities are racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest concentrations of immigrant populations in California, Florida, Texas, New York, and Illinois. However, there is an increasing trend of immigrants moving to other regions, including smaller towns and rural areas. This is mainly due to the growing demand for immigrant workers in particular industries, such as agriculture and food processing, or in areas with high concentrations of immigrant-led businesses, such as technology, education and health care. This is a change from the early 2000s, when most immigrants settled in cities such as San Francisco and New York.