Immigrants make up a significant and growing share of the United States’ population. They contribute to their communities and the country’s culture and economy as workers, business owners, taxpayers, and neighbors. They are disproportionately employed in agricultural, construction, and service industries where hard work and dedication pay off. They are essential to the nation’s health care and social assistance systems and to its computer and mathematical sciences workforce. They are the backbone of the economy and the backbone of our diverse society.
As the United States continues to grapple with immigration in the wake of the recent presidential election, public opinion on the issue remains split. Most Americans, however, have positive views of immigrants. Two-thirds of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say that immigrants strengthen the country because of their hard work, while just 8% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents think they burden the nation.
The term “immigrant” is often used loosely and without clear definitions. For example, the United Kingdom government uses its own definition of migrants – including those seeking asylum — which differs from that used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This leads to confusion in official statistics and also makes comparisons between different countries difficult.
In addition, some surveys use different definitions of immigrants. For example, one survey uses the more general term ‘foreign-born people’ while another identifies them as having been legally admitted to a country to live and work for an indefinite period of time. This further complicates comparability and understanding of public attitudes towards immigration.
Generally speaking, however, immigrants are those who leave their country of origin to settle in a new one. Migrants generally move from place to place for economic reasons, whereas refugees are individuals fleeing armed conflict or persecution with the knowledge that if they return home, their lives could be at risk.
Most immigrants surveyed say they came to the United States for a variety of reasons, with larger shares citing better work and educational opportunities, a better future for their children, and more rights and freedoms than they had at home. A smaller but still sizeable share cites joining family members or escaping unsafe or dangerous conditions.
Many of those who moved to the United States rely heavily on their labor force to keep our economy running smoothly. For example, a large percentage of farmers are immigrants, as well as nearly two-fifths of those working in the computer and math sciences industry. In addition, more than 4 million immigrants provide health care and social assistance to the nation’s residents.
While many of these individuals may be highly skilled in their fields, the vast majority of them are not fluent in English, which limits their ability to work and interact with fellow citizens. This can lead to a lack of integration into American life and increases the risk that they will be taken advantage of by scam artists. It can also hinder their ability to access services and navigate the bureaucracy of government institutions, as well as to learn and practice the language that will help them succeed in their new homes.