Immigration gives the United States an economic edge in the world economy. Immigrants bring innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to the U.S. economy. They provide business contacts to other markets, enhancing America’s ability to trade and invest profitably in the global economy.

After being taken into custody by ICE, you will be placed into a holding facility. Some detention facilities are directly operated by ICE, or their private contractors. Other facilities are sub-contracted to local prisons and jails. When first detained by ICE, you have the right to make one free, local phone call.

Old immigrants came to the U.S. and were generally wealthy, educated, skilled, and were from southern and eastern Europe. New immigrants were generally poor, unskilled, and came from Northern and Western Europe. Their country was suffering from severe unemployment, poverty and famine.

Between 1845 and 1855 more than 1.5 million adults and children left Ireland to seek refuge in America. Most were desperately poor, and many were suffering from starvation and disease. They left because disease had devastated Ireland’s potato crops, leaving millions without food.

The refugees seeking haven in America were poor and disease-ridden. They threatened to take jobs away from Americans and strain welfare budgets. They practiced an alien religion and pledged allegiance to a foreign leader. They were bringing with them crime.

Why did Irish immigrants remain in the US even after facing attitudes such as those in the excerpt? They believed they had greater opportunities in America. They provided essential services to immigrants, such as finding housing.