As the rates of immigration continue to increase throughout the nation, researchers have begun conducting studies regarding the effect of this continuous migration on the economy, communities, culture of cities with high rates of migration, and the impact on American citizens. Recently, however, research studies have moved away from determining the impact immigrants have on a nation's culture, and began studies, which focus on how culture is impacting immigrants. Researchers have begun exploring the factors of different cultures which influence an immigrant's perception, behavior, and even health and overall lifestyle. The findings of multiple studies have found, however, that not only is there an impact on the behaviors, perception, health and overall well being on immigrants when migrating to a new country, but that the impacts left on the lives of these individuals are not always positive ones. America is regarded as the essence of democracy, the beacon of light, which represents freedom and the pursuit of happiness for all who enter, and thus has become a safe haven for many immigrants who wish to escape oppression or who wish to seek a better life.