Introduction
Many immigrants arrive in the U.S. with dreams and hopes of succeeding here. Instead, however, they are confronted with a host of challenges to their goals for success. Below are described five of the biggest challenges that today’s immigrants are confronting, and how we can work together to create a fair path to success for new immigrants.
Understand Discrimination Challenges in the U.S.
Discrimination in the U.S. against foreign-born individuals occurs from time to time in the workplace, in homes, and even among other immigrants. Whether in a job interview, a store, at a restaurant or other place of public business, an individual need not reveal his or her foreign birth in order to suffer discrimination on account of his or her color or foreign accent. Approximately 70% of foreign-born individuals report some form of discrimination against them at times. In addition to discrimination by native-born individuals, 55% of foreign-born workers with limited English ability reported being mistreated by their employers or others at their workplaces.
In California alone, a survey of recent newcomers to the state found that 42% of Latino immigrants have had a family member or close friend deported. Because of fear of deportation, many immigrants are reluctant to contact government agencies and community organizations for assistance. On a national level, 47% of foreign-born workers are earning less than their native-born counterparts who hold similar jobs and possess similar amounts of experience.
For example, there’s Joaquin Hurtado, 48 years old and from Mexico, who feels that he is discriminated against in many ways. He now earns $32 an hour working as a garbage truck driver. However, he recalls that he was once paid the low wage of $2.60 below minimum wage for his labor. Many times he was even short changed from his pay.
Here at Vasquez Law Firm, we understand the challenges that many immigrants are facing, and we are here to assist them in achieving their goals. We are strongly committed to protecting the rights of injured workers to receive just compensation for their work-related injuries and receive full and proper treatment for their injuries. We can assist with a wide array of legal issues including dealing with ICE enforcement and deportation proceedings, as well as workplace discrimination. We have created payment options to accommodate just about anyone’s budget. We work on a contingency fee basis so help is just a phone call away. Why let workplace discrimination and other legal issues affect your life and ruin your chances at receiving the help that you so rightfully deserve? We have over 30 years of experience in all areas of law and serve the local community on a bilingual basis. In addition to assisting clients with their legal issues, we provide a great deal of free legal services to the community on a pro bono basis, as well as free legal education to those in need of it. Contact us for a free initial consultation to go over your specific needs and we can assist you in achieving your goals.
Evaluate Healthcare Accessibility and Costs
Many individuals and families are struggling to receive healthcare due to high cost of health care services and limited health care services available. Many undocumented individuals are not eligible for services using public health insurance even if they are eligible for other services. In many cases even individuals who are eligible for services are not able to receive them due to the high cost of out-of-pocket expenses for health care services. Language barriers also exist that create barriers to health care for many individuals and families. Many individuals and families delay treatment of medical problems due to fear of cost or misperception of rights to receive health care services.
Community health centers as well as many health care and immigration advocacy organizations are working hard to identify and tackle the many, many remaining health care access barriers affecting those who need health care. There are some promising initiatives currently under way in North Carolina as well as in Florida to increase access to quality health care for newcomers.
While healthcare access evolves, Vasquez Law Firm will continue to inform the public of the changing health care laws and how we can assist you in obtaining health care. Vasquez Law Firm advocates for people needing health care and is a full service personal injury law firm that handles cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that there are no attorney fees unless a settlement or award is obtained and then only out of that recovery. In other words, attorney fees are based on the amount of the recovery. We also attempt to accommodate our clients’ financial situation by paying attorney’s fees in installments if needed. We have a staff of very experienced attorneys and all of their services are available to you. We have several locations in Charlotte, Concord and Huntersville, NC and throughout Florida. Your health is important and we will continue to fight for your right to receive health care.
Assess Educational Opportunities and Challenges
You are a 5-10 year old child from another country who wants to learn but feels that because of language barriers you are unable to participate in the school activities, understand school work and learn about your culture in school. Children from other countries generally feel isolated in schools because of cultural differences. Before coming to school, children from other countries have had different amounts of prior formal education and schools are generally not equipped to deal with children who speak no English and have had very little or no formal education before.
New policies have been put into place to manage the children of illegal immigrant parents and there is much uncertainty and fear amongst them and their families. A recent report showed that during an immigration enforcement action in certain locations, children’s school attendance dropped by as much as 22% as families stayed indoors fearing detention by immigration authorities. Children living with the uncertainty and fear of what is happening to their families can suffer from increased stress and anxiety which has a negative effect on their learning too.
A good school for students of different origins can provide education in different languages. A foreign student needs more than learning additional languages in school. He or she needs to feel at home in school. Schools can provide good education to children of diverse origins by:
- Offering programs of bilingual education
- Matching students with appropriate student-mentors
- Forming partnerships with community organizations and services
School administrators and teachers must know the rights of foreign students. According to the famous case of Plyler v. Doe (1982), all children and young people, whatever their status and of whatever status their parents are, have the right to receive an education in public schools.
Consider Cultural Differences in Food and Lifestyle
Many new immigrants all over the world are struggling to find the food from their home countries in stores. They can even feel isolated enough to be homesick. Even though some new immigrants speak perfect English, many more do not. Therefore, searching for food to connect with people of similar culture can be extremely difficult. However, many new immigrants have a hard time adapting to the social norms of their new country. 14% of immigrants living in the US are living in poverty compared to 12% of U.S.-born individuals. The cost to eat a diverse diet can be too expensive for some new immigrants.
There are resources available in communities across the country to learn about cultures living in your area as well as to connect with others and have support of others who may be going through similar circumstances. In North Carolina, the North Carolina Immigrant Rights Coalition has been working to assist newly arrived immigrants through a food-sharing initiative as well as many other resources available to assist in preserving the culinary traditions of cultures of newly arrived immigrants.
In addition to helping newly arrived individuals and families find sources of familiar foods, they can also investigate within their community for resources for cultural festivals and markets where they can meet other people from their culture and buy foods from their culture. Communities can also help to support the cultures of new arrivals so that they feel at home in their new location.
Recognize Employment Challenges and Market Competition
Do your education, experience, and skills deserve to be respected and rewarded in the US workplace? Many highly skilled, foreign-educated individuals feel that they are not being recognized or utilized fully because of language and other cultural barriers to work in the US. In 2024, 47% of foreign-born individuals with college degrees reported that they speak English “less than ‘very well’”. This severely limits their ability to compete for higher paying jobs.
Foreign-born workers also face many instances of workplace discrimination. Of skilled foreign-born individuals, 35% reported that their foreign college and/or work credentials were not recognized by their employers. Consequently, many highly skilled foreign-born individuals are underutilized at work and earn less than what they are truly worth. This kind of discrimination is often hidden behind a veil of virtue and can affect people differently.
For example, skill underutilization is reported by 25% of highly skilled, foreign-educated individuals compared with 18% of their U.S.-born, highly-skilled counterparts. There are many different job training programs as well as organizations that assist foreign-born individuals to reach their full potential in the US.
At Vasquez Law Firm we are committed to assisting all of our foreign-born clients with all of their legal matters. We are a bilingual law firm and therefore language is never a problem for us in assisting our clients. We also conduct community education initiatives including free “Know Your Rights” workshops in English as well as in Spanish. These free community workshops inform individuals with respect to their rights and assist them to identify and overcome the many legal barriers that exist to achieving their goals.
Conclusion
We want to know more about the challenges that immigrants and foreign-born individuals and their family members face in the U.S. Are there instances of discrimination? How is health care? Can immigrants and foreign-born individuals access the same educational opportunities as others? How do cultural norms around food and entertainment affect them? And finally, how do work opportunities affect individuals who have skills and/or education but cannot use them because of the work they do?
Immigrants can feel isolated while living in the U.S. because of discrimination and suspicious behavior towards them by business owners and other citizens. Many immigrants also have a great deal of stress and anxiety when seeking health care because of the high cost of services and because they do not speak English well and have trouble explaining their symptoms or understanding the treatment recommended by health care professionals. Immigrants have difficulty accessing education because of cultural differences and fear of deportation. In addition to these problems, many immigrants feel lonely because of the cultural difference in the food that immigrants are used to eating and other aspects of daily life. Many immigrants have great stress and anxiety because they are unable to find work that utilizes their skills and education.
However, we have learned of many more difficulties faced by many of our fellow human beings attempting to make their home in this country and are striving to educate ourselves to better serve a very diverse community. At Vasquez Law Firm, we are familiar with the many challenges that our immigrant clients face. Our bilingual staff and affordable payment plans are intended to make our services as accessible as possible. A free initial consultation is offered to explore the legal needs of the immigrant and to explain the available alternatives to assist in attaining their goals. Local community resources are frequently called upon to assist in immigrant issues, to enable the immigrant to more effectively cope with life in this country and to ultimately attain success here in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of discrimination do foreign-born individuals face in the U.S.?
Foreign-born individuals may experience discrimination in various settings, including the workplace, homes, and public businesses. This can occur based on their color, foreign accent, or other factors, even if they do not disclose their foreign birth.
How prevalent is discrimination among foreign-born individuals?
Approximately 70% of foreign-born individuals report experiencing some form of discrimination, with 55% of foreign-born workers with limited English ability indicating mistreatment by employers or others in their workplaces.
What challenges do immigrants face regarding deportation fears?
Many immigrants, particularly those who have had family members or friends deported, are reluctant to seek assistance from government agencies or community organizations due to fear of deportation.
How does income for foreign-born workers compare to native-born workers?
On a national level, 47% of foreign-born workers earn less than their native-born counterparts who have similar jobs and experience.
What services does Vasquez Law Firm provide to immigrants facing discrimination?
Vasquez Law Firm assists immigrants with various legal issues, including workplace discrimination and ICE enforcement. They offer flexible payment options and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients only pay if they receive a settlement or award.
What is the situation regarding healthcare accessibility for undocumented individuals?
Many undocumented individuals are ineligible for public health insurance and face high out-of-pocket costs for healthcare services. Language barriers also contribute to difficulties in accessing healthcare.
What initiatives are being undertaken to improve healthcare access for newcomers?
Community health centers and advocacy organizations are working to address healthcare access barriers, with promising initiatives currently underway in North Carolina and Florida.
How does Vasquez Law Firm support individuals in obtaining healthcare?
Vasquez Law Firm advocates for individuals needing healthcare and provides legal services on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no attorney fees unless a settlement is obtained. They also offer payment plans to accommodate clients' financial situations.
Where are the locations of Vasquez Law Firm?
Vasquez Law Firm has several locations in Charlotte, Concord, and Huntersville, NC, as well as throughout Florida.
List of Sources
- Understand Discrimination Challenges in the U.S.
- Study: Many Immigrants Perceive Racial Discrimination at Work, in Health Care | Newsroom (https://news.ucmerced.edu/news/2021/study-many-immigrants-perceive-racial-discrimination-work-health-care)
- Low wages, lousy shifts, little room for advancement: Immigrant workers describe on-the-job discrimination (https://latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-10-19/immigrant-workers-report-high-leves-of-discrimination-on-the-job)
- Immigrants Overwhelmingly Say They and Their Children Are Better Off in the US, But Many Also Report Substantial Discrimination and Challenges, a New KFF/Los Angeles Times Survey Reveals | KFF (https://kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/immigrants-overwhelmingly-say-they-and-their-children-are-better-off-in-the-us-but-many-also-report-substantial-discrimination-and-challenges-a-new-kff-los-angeles-times-survey-reveals)
- Evaluate Healthcare Accessibility and Costs
- What Recent Policy Changes Mean for Immigrant Health Coverage (https://commonwealthfund.org/publications/explainer/2025/oct/what-recent-policy-changes-mean-immigrant-health-coverage)
- These new state and federal policies will reshape health care access for immigrants in 2026 (https://eltimpano.org/english/health/these-new-state-and-federal-policies-will-reshape-health-care-access-for-immigrants-in-2026)
- What Immigrants Need to Know About the New Medicaid Eligibility Restrictions (https://nilc.org/articles/what-immigrants-need-to-know-about-the-new-medicaid-eligibility-restrictions)
- How H.R.1 Impacts Coverage for Non-Citizens - State Health and Value Strategies ~ Driving Innovation Across States (https://shvs.org/resources/how-h-r-1-impacts-coverage-for-non-citizens)
- Assess Educational Opportunities and Challenges
- Immigration Issues: Guidance for Educators | NEA (https://nea.org/resource-library/immigration-issues-guidance-educators)
- Educators Say Immigration Enforcement Is Emptying Their Classrooms (https://tcf.org/content/commentary/educators-say-immigration-enforcement-is-emptying-their-classrooms)
- Undocumented Children’s Right to Public Education Is Under Threat - American Immigration Council (https://americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/undocumented-children-right-to-public-education)
- How Federal Policies Are Undermining Educational Opportunity for Immigrant Students (https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/how-federal-policies-are-undermining-educational-opportunity-immigrant-students)
- Federal and state policies targeting immigrant children at school erode decades of progress in education access | Brookings (https://brookings.edu/articles/federal-and-state-policies-targeting-immigrant-children-at-school-erode-decades-of-progress-in-education-access)
- Consider Cultural Differences in Food and Lifestyle
- Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States (https://migrationpolicy.org/journal/spotlight/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states)
- How access to cultural foods can help people feel more at home (https://torontomu.ca/research/publications/newsletter/food-for-life-cultivating-sustaining-and-transforming/how-access-to-cultural-foods-can-help-people-feel-more-at-home)
- Immigrant Workers Are the Backbone of Our Food System (https://civileats.com/2024/10/02/immigrant-workers-are-the-backbone-of-our-food-system)
- As Food Insecurity Rises, Immigrants Step Up to the Plate (https://boundless.com/blog/as-food-insecurity-rises-immigrants-step-up-to-the-plate)
- Food for Soul—Older Immigrants’ Food Habits and Meal Preferences After Immigration: A Systematic Literature Review - PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11289087)
- Recognize Employment Challenges and Market Competition
- Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States (https://migrationpolicy.org/journal/spotlight/frequently-requested-statistics-immigrants-and-immigration-united-states)
- Credential Recognition in the United States for Foreign Professionals (https://migrationpolicy.org/publication/credential-recognition-united-states-foreign-professionals)
- Immigrants in the U.S. Economy: Overcoming Hurdles, Yet Still Facing Barriers - Immigration Research Initiative (https://immresearch.org/reports/immigrants-in-the-u-s-economy-overcoming-hurdles-yet-still-facing-barriers-2)
- Barriers to Career Advancement Among Skilled Immigrants in the US - Ballard Brief (https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/barriers-to-career-advancement-among-skilled-immigrants-in-the-us)
- New Research Finds Reducing Immigration Does Not Help U.S. Workers (https://forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2026/02/22/new-research-finds-reducing-immigration-does-not-help-us-workers)
