Take housekeeping, for example. Even highly educated immigrants rarely find jobs at good salaries right away. Six years ago, assistant law Prof. Mohammad Mozeihem fled the civil war in his native Lebanon. He now sells gas in Dearborn. He can't take the bar exam until his English improves, but he can't afford full-time schooling.
Time proves a great leveler for many immigrants.
Rather than taking jobs away from American citizens, immigrants often exploit niche occupations. Koreans, backed by seed money typically raised by their community, have made gourmet salad bars a fixture in many parts of New York City. Legal immigrants, for one thing, tend to shun welfare because of the confusing bureaucracy, immigration expert Marco Mason says. Illegal immigrants are not eligible for welfare benefits. Those legalized five years ago under the Immigration Reform and Control Act are only now becoming eligible for welfare benefits.