Time has changed, indeed. When I was on immigrant status 20 years ago, I was on myself 100%. It never occurred to me that I can get help from government
My boss at the now disgraced footwear company came here from Africa 30 years ago - a true refugee who still cannot go back because he refused to fight for the corrupt dictator who still holds power he seized.
When my boss got here right away they wanted to put him on welfare and get him a job as a dishwasher because the pay was so low it wouldn’t prevent him from getting his full welfare. He refused their pressure to do this, worked up to 3 jobs to support his family, got his degree and has had a successful corporate career and wonderful well-raised, successful & educated children. He told me that 30 years later some of the people who arrived when he did are still on welfare and washing dishes.
He has told me over and over “there is no other country like the United States where you can succeed through your own work”.