5 Big Questions About Immigration

Because it is! Every person living in the U.S. who isn’t Native American is either an immigrant or has a parent, grandparent, or other ancestor who was one. More than 40 million people living in the U.S. today were born in other countries.

Because it is! Every person living in the U.S. who isn’t Native American is either an immigrant or has a parent, grandparent, or other ancestor who was one. More than 40 million people living in the U.S. today were born in other countries.

Not exactly. In the 1750s, Benjamin Franklin, one of the nation’s early leaders, worried about the German immigrants who settled in the 13 Colonies. He wrote that they would “never adopt our language or customs.”

In the 1800s, huge waves of immigrants began to arrive from Europe and Asia. Many dressed differently, spoke different languages, and practiced different religions than most Americans did. Some people feared the newcomers would take their jobs, spread crime, and change the American way of life.

Not exactly. Benjamin Franklin was one of the nation’s early leaders. In the 1750s, he worried about the German immigrants who settled in the 13 Colonies. He wrote that they would “never adopt our language or customs.”

In the 1800s, many immigrants began to arrive from Europe and Asia. Many dressed differently than most Americans did. Some spoke different languages. Others practiced different religions. Some people feared the newcomers would take their jobs, spread crime, and change the American way of life.

In many ways, immigrants helped build the U.S., from railroads to skyscrapers. Immigrant workers on the nation’s farms and in its factories and mines helped the U.S. economy become the world’s biggest.

Today, about one in six workers in the U.S. are foreign-born. They are doctors, lawyers, and engineers. They also work in many other fields. Some of the biggest American companies—including Amazon, Apple, and Google—were started by immigrants or the kids of immigrants.

In many ways, immigrants helped build the U.S. They built railroads and skyscrapers. Immigrants worked on the nation’s farms and in its factories and mines. They helped the U.S. economy become the world’s biggest.

Today, about one in six workers in the U.S. are foreign-born. They are doctors, lawyers, and engineers. They also work in many other fields. Some of the biggest American companies—including Amazon, Apple, and Google—were started by immigrants or the kids of immigrants.

Many view America as a land of opportunity, where they can get a better education and find better jobs than they could in their home country. Others come to seek freedom or to join relatives who came before them.

But some people, called refugees, come to the U.S. to escape danger. Often, they are fleeing war or gang violence. Other refugees are at risk because of their religion, race, or political beliefs. Unlike many immigrants, most refugees will never return to their homelands because it is too unsafe.

Many view America as a land of opportunity. They can get a better education and find better jobs than they could in their home country. Others come to seek freedom or to join relatives who came before them.

But some people come to the U.S. to escape danger. They are called refugees. Often, they are fleeing war or gang violence. Other refugees are at risk because of their religion, race, or political beliefs. Unlike many immigrants, most refugees will never return to their homelands. It is too unsafe to do so.

A 2019 national survey shows that Americans have different opinions on the issue:

A 2019 national survey shows that Americans have different opinions on the issue:

In recent years, the U.S. has put limits on immigration and admitted fewer refugees than in the past. These decisions have been unpopular with many Americans.

Alan Kraut is a professor at American University in Washington, D.C. He says the debate over who to let in isn’t new. “How many immigrants do we accept? From where?” he says. “These are the same questions our leaders have been asking for years.”

In recent years, the U.S. has put limits on immigration. The nation has admitted fewer refugees than in the past. These decisions have been unpopular with many Americans.

Alan Kraut is a professor at American University in Washington, D.C. He says the debate over who to let in isn’t new. “How many immigrants do we accept? From where?” he says. “These are the same questions our leaders have been asking for years.”