Opportunity is what brought many immigrants to seek work in the U.S. So what happens when opportunities are bleaker thanks to a recession? Some studies indicated that a few immigrants have returned home, and many others have chosen not to migrate at this time. But the majority of immigrants here have decided to “tough it out.”

For immigrant workers, tough economic times are nothing new. Many grew up with little opportunities and poor paying jobs, if they could even find them. So surviving a U.S. recession is often a matter of adjustment. As contributor Eliza Barclay reports, some immigrants try to pick up “odd jobs” while others create their own small businesses.

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