Although the United States has been shaped by continual waves of immigrants, Americans have often viewed immigration as a proble

Although the United States has been shaped by continual waves of immigrants, Americans have often viewed immigration as a problem./Established Americans often look down on new immigrants./Despite such tensions, economic needs have always forced Americans to seek immigrants as laborers and settlers, and economic opportunities have appealed to foreigners./The vast majority of immigrants to the United States have come in search of jobs and the chance to create a better life for themselves and their families./In all of American history, less than 10 percent of immigrants have come for political or religious reasons./
   Economic immigrants from Europe, Asia, and Latin America have come to the United States voluntarily./Others, most African Americans, were involuntarily transported to North America to do forced labor or to be sold as slaves./Regardless of the reasons they come to the United States, new immigrants typically work in labor-intensive, low-paying, and dangerous jobs-- occupations that most other Americans avoid./