Common Questions About America: Immigration Success, Racism, the American Character and Schools for Your Children
In this episode I continue answering the most important questions that come up often about America. I begin with a question that is always asked the wrong way.
What is the best state to live in in America?
Many people call me to ask: what is the best state to live in in America? From the start this cannot be the question, because there is no state that is the best, since between every state and another there are very big factors and differences. What helps you and is best for your situation and family may be the worst choice for someone else. But the right question that should be asked is: what are the most important differences between the states in America?
In my personal view there are three things that are the biggest differences between any state you want to compare with another: the first is the economy, the second is the climate, weather and atmospheric conditions, and the third is the demographics. I advise every new immigrant who has arrived in America or is thinking of emigrating to it soon to research these three things, and on the basis of his understanding of them he can decide the best state to live in for himself and his children.
The economy: because there are states that are truly rich and states that are poor or getting by. Weather and climate: because not everyone can live in severe cold or severe heat, and America on this point differs completely from east to west and from north to south. There are states and cities where there is snow most of the year, and if you think snow is pleasant and charming, when you live nine or ten months a year with it surrounding you everywhere you will be suffocated by it, because it holds you back from very many things. On the other side, not everyone can bear living in the southern states, where it is very hot and humid most of the time all year, so that you can hardly turn off the air conditioner except for two or three months in the whole year.
As for the economy, it has many details and very big differences, but in general California on the West Coast is considered the richest of the American states, and inside America it is measured by many points, the most important being the state’s gross product and the average annual income per person in it. California is in first place with an average annual income for a household living there of more than $81,000 at the time of recording, and it is among the ten richest states in America, which include states we all know such as New Jersey, Texas and Virginia. You will find that most of the rich states are large in area and have businesses and giant companies, while their population at the same time is not large.
The third thing is demographics, a very important subject for anyone who wants to live in America, because not all states welcome immigrants, nor do all states have residents used to seeing immigrants around them. On this point the Democratic states are the best: the number of immigrants in them is large and they have ethnic diversity and a more inclusive population mix, and this gives you as an immigrant room to integrate faster into society and not feel a deep sense of being a stranger, and you usually do not see any kind of racism directed at you. So my answer to this question has to pass through these three points, so pay close attention to them before you decide the best state to live in for your case.
Is emigrating to America an adventure with a guaranteed outcome?
My answer differs from one person to another and from one case to another, and depends simply on what you want from America and the level of success you hope for. If you want to do an ordinary job and do not want to develop yourself, your emigration project will probably not be as successful as you expect. America is the land of opportunity for whoever has a bold heart, loves adventure and looks for opportunities around him at every step. If you are that person, your emigration project is successful on this point.
On another side, if you have a family and will not be able to follow your children and watch them at every step inside America, your emigration is a failed project from the start, because if you do not give your children enough attention they will probably be lost to you. And I do not think anyone wants to emigrate and earn money and lose his children. The equation is hard, but you are the one who decides.
From another angle, if you are looking for quality of life, America may be the best choice. A respectable country that offers many things to everyone who lives on its soil, with a clear path to citizenship after a number of years, unlike other countries where you may spend your whole life and your name there stays “expatriate.” America gives you as much as you give it. What matters is that you know and study from the start what you want to give it and what you expect to take from it.
Is there racism against Arabs and Muslims in America?
A question that should be asked every week or two, and I have answered it dozens of times: there is no systematic racism against any minority inside America, but there are individual cases and situations you may see everywhere, and they rise and fall according to two things. The first is the place you are in, as we said, whether a city or a state not used to seeing many immigrants. The second is the political events and positions taking place in the country and outside it. These two things move the racism indicator inside America up and down according to the state and the events happening locally or globally, and hate crimes against minorities may rise or fall.
The biggest example of that is the period when Trump ruled, a hateful racist person who hates all people different from him, and the mere presence of a person like him in the office of president became like giving a green light to all the racist people inside America to practice their racism on any minority around them, and this of course violates the law and the constitution. That is why everyone caught practicing racism against any person different from him inside America is fined and held accountable by law, whether a person or an institution. I had earlier presented an episode on racism in Trump’s era while he was ruling, and you can watch it from the link I put, and I think it will be useful.
What is the character of the American people?
I am speaking about the American people in general, and the rule is taken by the majority, not the minority. The majority of the American people are friendly and like serving others. And I repeat that I am speaking about the people, not the government. It is an easygoing, uncomplicated people, not a people of show, practical, and for them life is simple.
But in my opinion it has a big fault: it is on the whole selfish and individualistic, and therefore not interested in what goes on far from it. You will not find it interested in what goes on outside the borders of its city or neighborhood, so do not expect Americans to know what is happening in Egypt or Syria or Yemen. Even people in New York are not interested in what happens in New Jersey next door and their neighbors, let alone what happens, for example, in Pennsylvania or in Washington, D.C. The east of America has nothing to do with its west, its south has nothing to do with its north, and everyone is focused on his own life. And some Arabs who come newly see this as a good thing, and part of it may be, but not being interested in what goes on around you is in my opinion a negative. And a segment of Americans do not even care about the presidential elections.
Overall, the American people are friendly and welcoming to immigrants, and I speak of the majority segment, especially in the states and cities used to seeing immigrants from all corners of the world, so they have no problem dealing with them and offering help if possible. The new arrival will easily notice that most Americans walk in the streets smiling and greet one another, and in any park or public garden you will find people talking with one another comfortably, while keeping a space of privacy for each one.
If I arrive on a tourist visa, can I enroll my children in public schools?
Question nine: if I arrive in America on a tourist visa, is it all right to enroll my children in public schools? And the answer is a definite yes, it is. Even if you broke the visa, that is, overstayed the legal period of stay allowed to you inside America, you are allowed to put your children in government or public schools, even high school, until they get their high school diploma, because the American government considers the right to education a basic right for everyone residing on American soil, even an entirely undocumented resident. Public government schools are completely free up to high school and open to anyone, even someone who broke his visa, or even someone who entered America illegally, such as people who cross the border by smuggling. All of these are fully allowed to put their children in public government schools.
Can I get medical insurance in America?
Question number ten and the last: is it possible to get medical insurance inside America? This question has two parts. If what is meant is free medical insurance, which is Medicaid, then yes it is possible in some states and some cities, foremost among them New York City, which is the best city in America at providing health insurance to its residents. It even provides it to visitors and to pregnant women. That is why you find many women coming from outside America to give birth in New York, and they give birth completely free at the expense of the American government, that is, at the expense of Medicaid or health insurance.
Even so, I never advise anyone to do that, because although it is available in case of necessity for pregnant women, it causes problems afterwards for the tourist visa on which the pregnant woman arrived in America. The American government often cancels it and bars the woman who gave birth here from returning to America in the future, unless she pays the amounts owed for the hospital’s delivery bills. This is if the person is a visitor or tourist and has no legal residence inside America, and most cities will not accept.
As for a person who is a lawful resident inside America, New York City is also the best in terms of health insurance, as it allows him to apply for free health insurance from the first day he got the green card. While some other states, such as New Jersey or Pennsylvania, require that five years pass from the time he got the green card, and perhaps most states require that. So New York is the best for anyone looking for free health insurance, regardless of his legal status inside America, whether a lawful or unlawful resident.
With this the ten questions are finished, which are the ten most important questions that come up often, and which perhaps many people send me daily. I hope the episode was useful and that the answers were satisfying, and I really do try hard to answer any question accurately, which is why you find some questions need detailed answers with many branches. I am truly glad when anyone writes to me to say he benefited from the episodes I present. Thank you.
Article originally published on 3 October 2026.