Question for people that have immigrated to the US (legally or not)?

Question

Just curious as an American citizen. What were some of your stereotypes of the USA and/or Americans before you came here? Were the stereotypes very accurate, somewhat accurate, not accurate at all? Thoughts on the US since coming here?

Good points Answerbot but Webster's defines immigration as "coming to a new country or place" while emigration "is leaving one country or region to settle in another." If I were to move from the US, I would emigrate from here and immigrate to a new land; technically you have done both but you immigrate to the new place of origin while you emigrate from the previous location.

Not trying to get political here. Technically yes, everyone from Canada to the tip of Chile can be defined as North American, South American, Latin American, etc. Only people that live in the US are referred to as Americans since we come from the United States of America. I explain this often, Americans are not conceited on this issue and are simply being referred to being members of their nation like people from Canada are Canadians or residents of Mexico are Mexicans. No other country on either continent really uses "America" as part of their name and to refer to residents from these various nations only leads to more confusion; many people from these people would consider it an insult to be confused with us Americans as well.

Answer 1

well when I came here you did not here about this issues. My mom got her papers in the amnesty of 85 and that is how we came here. We did everything legal. However most of the immigrants dont have the resources to do that. I have grown to love the US because I was 11 years old when I came here but I still keep my traditions. Eventhough I am a citizen now my heart and soul, my blood, my everything is Mexican so I never forget that. Everyone that I have met since I got here to the US has been nice. Off course you are always going to meet a couple of jerks and some racists. But gladly my grandparents thought me to never let anyone disrespect me if they do,then you have the right to do the same. I learned english pretty quick maybe in about 8 months because all my stepbrothers spoke tha language so I learned to defend myself in both languages. I just wish people now a days understand that this people immigrate to the US to live a better life. I know alot of you would do the same if the Government was not doing its job.Specially if you have kids.

Answer 2

It is emigrated, not immigrated. Jeez, and I'm the immigrant here!

On to your answer, I am now a U.S. citizen too...since I was 18.

I have done something every year that most U.S. citizens don't do; VOTE. I vote in every election and every primary, if I don't know the issues or the candidates, I pick-up a newspaper.

I came here legally, but stayed past my visa...this was when I was little more than a toddler, so it's not like I had a choice or a stereotype of what a U.S. citizen was. I do now know that most native-born U.S. citizens take their privileges for granted and are blissfully unaware of the world around them. This point is highlighted by your question; Americans are any citizen of any nation in North, Central, or South America. Canadians are Americans too, as are Mexicans (did you know that they are electing a new President today?), Chileans, Brazilians, etc.

Answer 3

I was asked to post this here so:
it is because the name of the US is United States of America, that we are called Americans, and it is not meant to be a disrespect towards others who live on the North and South American continents. We are not called United Statians, we are called Americans and it should not be a point of discontent

Answer 4

Yeah Junior you are right. I would do the same. What I would NOT do is march through the streets DEMANDING anything..... How smart is that?