People come to the United States for a variety of reasons to start a new life. The vast majority (77%) of immigrants living in the United States are legal immigrants, and almost half (45%) are now naturalized, American citizens. why immigrants come to the United States.
Why Immigrants Come To The United States?
Between 1990 and 2007, a large wave of illegal immigrants arrived in the United States, tripling in number, but now it has begun to decline again.
Where are these people coming from? The main countries from which immigrants arrived in the United States in 2017 were India, Mexico, China, and Cuba, with a total of about 1 million.
Here are some of the main reasons people immigrate to the United States.
Looking For Work
The US has good job opportunities compared to the rest of the world. As the largest superpower on the planet, the United States has the most vibrant economy in the world.
Some Americans fear that immigrants will take over their jobs. Economists say this may happen in the short term, but in the long term, the economy will adapt to new immigration.
While, unfortunately, not everyone is willing to hire immigrants, research shows that the majority of the US population supports highly-skilled immigration.
To Avoid Harassment And Violence
Many today live in places where violence is more serious than in the United States. Most immigrants to the United States come from Mexico, which is part of Latin America, one of the most violent regions on earth.
Nearly 35,000 people were killed there in 2019. Part of the reason for this high number of deaths can be attributed to drug-related violence in the country.
Many people come to the United States from Mexico, not only in search of a better financial future but also to avoid violence.
Most of the refugees who applied for asylum in the United States in 2019 came from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Between 2016 and 2019, millions of people were displaced from the DRC due to fighting and unrest.
Improve living Conditions
The United States may not be as respected for its social policies as the Nordic countries, but being poor in America is better for many than being poor at home.
Many developing countries lack social protection systems such as social security and health care. Of course, people who immigrate to the United States don’t just do so for food stamps.
However, the fact that welfare systems exist here makes the United States a more attractive place to try to rebuild your life.
In general, living conditions in the United States are better than in many other parts of the world. While the country is not ideal, the inhabitants of cities and villages have running water, access to electricity, housing, roads, and utilities. This is a big plus for many migrants.
Educational Opportunities
People also immigrate to America to get an education or expand educational opportunities for their children. The country is home to some of the best higher education institutions in the world.
More than 1 million international students studied in the United States in 2020. Most of them came from China, India, or South Korea.
Being an international student in the United States isn’t a joke. You must support the full course load, you can only work part-time on campus, and you must prove that you have the money to pay for your tuition and living expenses. It is not an easy feat, but still many people do it.
Foreign students are often so-called “temporary immigrants” and return home with foreign diplomas after completing their studies.
However, some remain and seek more permanent status in the United States.
To Be Close To Your Family
Immigrants also move to America to reunite with their family members. Sometimes people meet online or abroad and decide to get married. If one of the spouses is an American citizen, the other can immigrate to the United States.
Some come to the United States to seek asylum or have been given the opportunity to obtain a green card or permanent resident status. Once these immigrants become citizens, they can invite other members of their families to join them.
Americans love to discuss the perceived advantages and disadvantages of accepting immigrants into their country.
The truth is that the United States as we know it was built by immigrants: everyone who lives in the United States, with the exception of Native Americans, can trace their roots back to those who immigrated in the past few centuries.
Immigrants are helping to boost economic growth and strengthen the country, according to the Bush Center. When new immigrants get employed, they also increase GDP.
This ultimately increases the income of all working people. Immigrants bring cultural wealth and new perspectives to society that help make America what it is.
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