Coming to America

Many people venture to the U.S. for a variety of reasons, but why do they feel like the U.S. is the only destination?

Immigration to the U.S. is not an unfamiliar process. Even before the U.S. was an established country, in the 1500s, America started to see some European settlers. But it would not be until later in the 1820s that the U.S. would see its first major wave of immigration, primarily from Northern and Western Europe. 

Ever since then, the U.S. has seen constant immigration from all corners of the world, though, at some points in history, it was limited due to implemented policies and war.  

Last year, the U.S. had the highest levels of immigration since 2001, peaking at 1.6 million immigrants. Although racial demographics have not been updated since 2021, it was reported by CNN that the largest number of immigrants came from the Americas, more specifically Mexico, as Mexico is a neighboring country. The second most dominant number of immigrants came from Asia. A smaller number came from Europe, Africa, and Oceania. 

But what is so appealing about America that makes immigrants risk everything just to come here? 

Job Opportunities 

One reason people come to America is because of all the job opportunities that we have to offer. Immigrants who come here are able to be granted visas for specific occupations or temporary agricultural work.  

According to Visual Capitalist, immigrants also receive “new arrival green cards issued for employment.” A better paying job means that a person who comes here can make a better living for themselves and their family. In the U.S., the average salary is around $60,000, whereas the neighboring country of Mexico’s average salary is around $17,000. 

However, this salary in the U.S. isn’t quite extended to immigrants. When immigrants come to the U.S., they are not granted high-paying jobs. Many work in agriculture for far less than minimum wage.  

“Many jobs don’t pay an hourly wage, but by piece rate,” a migrant Mexican farm worker named Elisa said. “My husband isn’t the fastest worker, so on a good day picking lemons he makes $30 a day. What am I supposed to do with $30? I try to make miracles!” 

Although there are many job opportunities for people in the U.S., this does not mean that these opportunities are extended to immigrants, especially if the immigrants are undocumented. Along with this, immigrants face issues at work. 

“Despite an improved situation relative to their countries of birth, many immigrants report facing serious challenges, including high levels of workplace and other discrimination, difficulties making ends meet, and confusion and fears related to U.S. immigration laws and policies,” according to KFF. 

Another issue immigrants must face when working in the U.S. are the existing language barriers.  

“About half of all immigrants have limited English proficiency, and about half among this group say they have faced language barriers in a variety of settings and interactions,” according to KFF. 

Better Education 

Another reason people come to America is because of our education system. Many people finish primary and secondary school and go to college to get a degree in a field of study. After they graduate, they can apply what they learned in college to the real world, to not only make money but make society a better place. 

“Most immigrants feel that moving to the U.S. has made them better off in terms of educational opportunities,” according to KFF. 

A great part of immigrants who come to the U.S for education are international students, who are students that come from their home country to study in the U.S. They are not only beneficial to the economy, but they are also beneficial to their local community, as many of them pursue careers in technology, math, and science that are helpful in this ever-changing world.  

Luckily, under federal law, a state or local school cannot deny a student based on their immigration status. This applies to primary and secondary schools. For colleges, there is no law saying that you cannot be denied based on immigration status, but some schools do accept undocumented students.  

A fresh start 

Many immigrants come to the U.S. to escape issues taking place at home. This could include their country’s political or economic climate. To get away from this, immigrants come to the U.S. for new beginnings, like settling in a safer city with their family, getting a new home, and getting a stable paying job.  

“Most immigrants, regardless of where they came from or how long they’ve been in the U.S. – say they came to the U.S. for more opportunities for themselves and their children,” according to KFF.  

When a person leaves their country at a time of corruption, it can take a toll on their mental health, as some immigrants must leave their families behind in intolerable conditions. Countries like Mexico that have a lot of violence and extortion due to gangs and cartels caused many to flee to the US for safety.  

“While many places in Mexico provide shelter for Venezuelans, Haitians, and Central Americans, some shelters in Tijuana have seen an influx of Mexicans fleeing violence, extortion and threats by organized crime,” according to AP News. 

After eluding problems in their homeland, immigrants feel a sense of security and safety knowing that they no longer must suffer and are given a new chance at life with many opportunities.  

The American Dream  

The number one reason people come to the U.S. is for a better life. This includes a nicer place to live, better education, better-paying jobs, and a nicer place to start a family or allow their current family to prosper. All of this falls under the American Dream.  

The American dream is defined by Investopedia as “the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone.”  

Ever since the founding of America, the U.S. has been seen as a place that people can come to for a restart in their lives, or to pursue their dreams that they feel would not succeed in their homeland. After all, the US was founded on this idea. This image of the U.S. being the “richest country in the world” makes immigrants feel that if they could be here, they too could grow and prosper. The journey may not be easy, whether it is to America or in America, but it allows an individual to achieve what seemed impossible.