People from around the world – children, women and men – make one of the most difficult decisions in their lives: to leave home to start over, sometimes temporarily, sometimes forever. Their reasons vary: violence, war, hunger, poverty, discrimination based on race, religion or sexual orientation, environmental destruction, natural disasters, economic opportunities, family reunification and simply the desire for a different life.
While many immigrants have positive experiences, they face a number of challenges as they settle into their new communities. For example, many have difficulty finding suitable employment, and about half say that they have been subject to discrimination at work. They often lack access to health care and other social services, and may have difficulty making ends meet in their new homes. Some struggle to adjust to the culture and language of their new communities. Others have difficulty readjusting to life without family and friends.
In the KFF/Los Angeles Times Survey of Immigrants, conducted in spring 2023, immigrants are asked to describe their current living conditions and the impact of migration on them, their families, their friends and society at large. This is the largest and most representative survey to date of adult immigrant experience in the United States. It includes responses from 3,358 immigrant adults whose countries of origin and histories, citizenship and immigration statuses, racial and ethnic identities and socioeconomic circumstances are diverse. In addition to the survey, the research team also conducted a series of focus groups with immigrants from a range of backgrounds and communities that expand upon information in the survey (see Methodology for details).
About three-quarters of all immigrant adults say that their financial situation, education opportunities, employment situation and overall safety are better now than when they first arrived in the U.S., and most say that their children’s future standard of living will be better than their own. Three in four say they would choose to move to the U.S. again if given the chance, and six in ten plan to stay permanently.
Immigrants make a substantial contribution to the economy. They pay a lot of taxes and create jobs, yet they do not have full access to some benefits, including Medicare, which requires citizenship for participation. Some 30-40% of immigrants eventually return to their countries of origin, resulting in a net fiscal cost to taxpayers because they have paid into the system but cannot use its benefits.
In the focus groups, many immigrants talked about their hopes and dreams for their children’s futures. Those who had children in school said that they felt strongly about the importance of providing them with opportunities for education and advancement, and they described sacrifices that they were willing to make in order to achieve those goals. Most of the focus group participants were not English proficient, and a large share mentioned that their biggest concerns related to making ends meet. These financial issues ranked higher than worries about healthcare, safety and language limitations.