Every day, around the world, people move from one place to another. Often, they leave their homes and the places they know to rebuild lives in different countries. Sometimes, they seek a job or an education. At other times, they escape war, hunger or extreme poverty. And sometimes, they seek to find safety and security from persecution because of their ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political opinions. The people who make this journey are called migrants, refugees or immigrants and their destinations are known as host countries. They are accompanied by families, friends and other loved ones.
This report explores the experiences of people from many countries who call America home, including their reasons for moving, their successes and challenges in their new country, and the impact on their families back in the places they left behind. It also looks at how the American immigrant experience varies by immigration status, race and ethnicity, economic circumstances, English proficiency, and other factors.
The number of immigrants in the United States has risen since 1970 and now stands at nearly 47.3 million. They account for 14.3% of the nation’s population, close to the highest share of foreign-born residents ever recorded in the country. The growth of the immigrant population has been driven by increases in people seeking refuge from war, violence and oppression, as well as those who are granted temporary protection from armed conflict or natural disasters, and those who have been given permission to stay under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Six in ten immigrants say they plan to stay in the United States, though the share who cite a desire to return to their home countries or to another country varies by immigration status and by demographic characteristics. About half of all working immigrants report having experienced discrimination in the workplace, with similar shares among those who have college degrees and those without.
Those who have a job are more likely to feel financially secure and be in good health than those who do not work, and the majority of working immigrants have jobs that pay well enough for them to support themselves and their family members. Many of those who work are in construction, sales, health care or other production jobs.
A large proportion of immigrants send money back to their home countries, particularly for the benefit of their children and other relatives. This is especially true for black and hispanic immigrants, who are more likely to report doing so than whites.
The immigration system in the United States is complex and includes legal channels for family reunification, employment (in several categories such as “aliens of extraordinary ability,” “skilled workers” and “other skilled workers”) and humanitarian immigration, which includes refugees and asylum seekers. The process for selecting those who receive humanitarian refugee status is determined by a complex set of criteria, including a person’s risk of harm and whether they are part of a group of individuals designated as “of particular concern” by the president and Congress.