What Is Immigration?

Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation

You know how sometimes people move from one house to a different house, maybe in a new neighborhood? Immigration is kind of like that, but much bigger — it's when someone moves from one whole country to a different country to live there. Maybe they move from far, far away across the ocean!

People move to new countries for lots of different reasons. Sometimes they want to find a better job so they can take care of their family. Sometimes their old home isn't safe anymore, and they need to find a place where they'll be okay. Sometimes they move to be closer to grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins who already live in the new country.

Moving to a new country is a really big deal. Imagine having to leave your friends, your school, and your favorite places behind. Some people even have to learn a whole new language! It can be scary, but also exciting because they get to start a new life and find new friends.

Lots and lots of families in the United States came from other countries — maybe even your family! People have come from all over the world, bringing their food, their music, their stories, and their traditions. That's one of the things that makes our country so interesting and full of different kinds of people.

Ages 6-8 More Detail

Immigration is when a person leaves the country where they were born and moves to a new country to live. The person who moves is called an immigrant. Throughout history, millions and millions of people have immigrated — it's one of the most common things humans have always done.

People immigrate for many different reasons. Some move to find better jobs and earn more money for their families. Some leave because their home country is going through a war, a natural disaster, or is governed by a cruel leader who makes life dangerous. Some move to be with family members who are already living in another country. Others want better schools, safer neighborhoods, or more freedom.

When someone wants to immigrate to the United States, they usually have to go through a process. They might apply for a visa — a special document that gives them permission to enter the country. Some people apply to become permanent residents, which means they can live and work here. Eventually, many immigrants apply for citizenship, which means they become full members of their new country with all the same rights as people born here.

Immigration has shaped the United States from the very beginning. Unless your family is Native American, your ancestors came from somewhere else — whether they arrived hundreds of years ago or more recently. People have come from Europe, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and every other part of the world, bringing with them different languages, foods, customs, and ideas.

Starting over in a new country can be very hard. Immigrants often have to learn a new language, get used to different customs, and find work — all while missing the people and places they left behind. Many immigrant kids have to adjust to new schools where everything feels unfamiliar. Being kind and welcoming to new kids at school who might be going through this can make a huge difference.

Ages 9-12 Full Explanation

Immigration is the process of moving from one country to another with the intention of living there permanently or for an extended period. It's a topic that shows up constantly in the news because it involves big questions about national identity, the economy, and human rights. Understanding immigration means looking at why people move, how the process works, and how it has shaped countries like the United States.

People immigrate for reasons that generally fall into two categories: push factors and pull factors. Push factors drive people away from their home country — things like war, political persecution, poverty, natural disasters, or lack of opportunity. Pull factors attract people to a new country — things like job opportunities, safety, better education, family already living there, or greater freedom. Most immigrants are motivated by a mix of both.

The U.S. immigration system involves several pathways. Family-based immigration allows citizens and permanent residents to sponsor relatives. Employment-based immigration brings workers with needed skills. The diversity visa lottery randomly selects people from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. Refugees and asylum seekers are people fleeing danger who apply for protection. Each pathway has its own rules, wait times, and limits, and the system is widely considered complicated and backlogged.

Immigration has been central to the American story since the country's founding. Waves of immigrants arrived from different parts of the world at different times — from Irish and German immigrants in the 1800s to Eastern European and Italian immigrants around 1900 to immigrants from Latin America and Asia in more recent decades. Each wave was often met with suspicion and resistance at first but ultimately enriched the country with new cultures, ideas, businesses, and energy.

Immigration is one of the most debated topics in American politics today. Some people believe the country should welcome more immigrants because they strengthen the economy, fill important jobs, and add to the country's diversity. Others worry about the impact on jobs, public services, and national security, and argue for stricter limits. Most people fall somewhere in between, supporting immigration in general but disagreeing on the details of how it should be managed.

If you're a kid with immigrant parents or grandparents, your family's story is part of the larger American immigration story. And if you have classmates who recently arrived from other countries, you can imagine how challenging it is to navigate a new school, new language, and new culture all at once. Immigration is driven by current events, but at its core, it's about families seeking safety, opportunity, and a better future — something most people can understand regardless of their background.