In 1911, American sociologist NYU Professor, Planned Parenthood co-founder and President of the American Eugenics Society Henry Pratt Fairchild predicted that new immigrants, “If he proves himself a man, and …acquires wealth and cleans himself up-very well, we might receive him in a generation or two, but at present he is far beneath us, and the burden of proof rests with him.” While the USA continues to welcome immigrants from around the globe, do those of us whose ancestors first arrived three, four, five generations or more ago know the sacrifices our forefathers and foremothers made for us to have the benefits of being American born? Through the story of my immigrant grandparents, I will discuss the experiences of the Great European Migration that began in the 1850s.  We will discuss the similarities of the immigrant experience throughout American history, its benefits and challenges. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss the experiences of their ancestors and reflect on the similarities of their ancestors to the immigrant experiences today.