What is the American Dream? Who has the right to pursue this dream and who does not? In particular, what beliefs do immigrants have when they enter the U.S. with high hopes? According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the American Dream is defined as “the ideal that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.”

Simply by definition, immigrants are excluded since this American Dream is an ideal for every citizen of the United States. There is no mention of non-citizens such as immigrants.