Challenges Faced by Immigrants Changing environments throughout the ages have caused the displacement of thousands of families from their home countries. Whether forced to make such decisions or doing so according to their own desires, all immigrants had to survive the physical and psychological challenges encountered along the way. Talking about the experiences of all these different people using the same ideas and examples would be completely inaccurate. But they all had to experience similar situations and face similar problems. Many of them were successful and found the better future they were looking for. Many others experienced only hardship and had their hopes and dreams destroyed. All have been transformed. Packing up and leaving your home is one of the hardest things a person can experience. Unfortunately, there are many cases where people are forced to do this. Alejandro Portes, author of Immigrant America: A Portrait, mentions in his book that even though they love and cherish their homeland, people are sometimes forced to leave it because of its disadvantages. “Desperate poverty, destitution and unemployment” are among the most common reasons for immigration from a country. Hundreds of families in third world countries literally struggle to put bread on the table. Many people cannot find jobs and are therefore unable to provide enough food and other basic necessities for their families. These miserable conditions lead to thoughts of moving to other places where a family can survive. The days of leaving and traveling to these new and promising places are quite painful. Among the many things immigrants leave behind are family, friends, and favorites... middle of paper ... we have opportunities to succeed. What we should all try to remember is that despite the fact that immigrants sometimes look different from natives or have different cultures and lifestyles, but they still deserve the same respect as everyone else. America is a free land that provides equal opportunity to all. Let us stick to these principles and lead a peaceful life. Sources used: Budhos, Marina. Remix. Markham: Fitzherry & Whiteside Ltd, 1999. ;University Council. ;"The new pioneers." Prairie Audience. PBS Online. September 8, 2003. ; Portes, Alejandro and Ruben G. Rumbaut. Immigrant America; A portrait. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1990. ;Tracewicz, Elzbieta. “When a child emigrates”. Voices that need to be heard. 2003. Independent Press Association. September 14 2003>.