Transition Of Immigrants

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Every immigrant who comes here should be required within 5 years to learn English or leave the country.” However, for today’s immigrants, this is not an easy task, especially mixed with the other challenges they face. When immigrants travel to, “The Land of the Free,” it is in no way an easy transition. These immigrants leave their homeland for a number of reasons. These reasons can be separated into two groups which are called push and pull factors. Some reasons include war, crime, and financial hardship. These would be push factors, pushing them away from their home. Or, perhaps they just simply want to be closer to friends and family. This would be considered a pull factor, pulling them towards a new country..

No matter the reason, it can be agreed that moving to and living in America is in no way easy for today’s immigrants.
To demonstrate, despite Theodore Roosevelt’s words, learning and speaking English is not easy.

When immigrants travel to the US, they are usually only fluent in their own language, whatever that may be. The US however, is not particularly strong in other languages that are less common, so that leaves immigrants with the task of learning English. Immigrants usually take ESL classes, yet this isn’t an option for some due to complications with taking care of children or work. According to, “The 7 biggest challenges facing refugees and immigrants in the US,” by Christina Nunez, it can be, “Especially difficult if you weren’t literate in your native tongue to begin with.” Second, obtaining services is a major issue for immigrants as well. For example, in cultures where seeking medical help or resulting to medicinal drugs is frowned upon, getting medical aid when desperately needed can be difficult. As for undocumented immigrants, the amount of services not open to them is quite long. One example is getting a lawyer when in need of one. Most will avoid this due to the risk of deportation. Finally, having to raise children in America and aiding them on their path of succeeding in school is challenging to say the least. Raising children is hard enough, yet raising them in an unfamiliar culture and area is unimaginably hard. This is due to the fact that children have an easier time learning a new language than their parents do, which will most likely be taken advantage of by the children. Also, the children often have a hard time in school. No parent wants to see their kid struggling, especially when they have no clue how to help them, since it’s all new to the parent

too.
To conclude, creating a new life in the US is very difficult for the immigrants of today. This is due to the fact that they are faced with many challenges including learning the English language, obtaining services, and raising children in the US. If only it were as easy as Theodore Roosevelt made it seem to learn English. Yet when that obstacle is placed on top of the many others foreigners face, it is proven to be far more difficult.