Italians are a great example from exactly 100 years ago. Approximately 2/3 of the 3 million Italian immigrants between 1890 and 1915 never intended to stay in the United States. They came to work and make enough to buy a plot of land back home in Southern Italy. About half actually returned to Italy. Because so many never intended to stay Italian communities were notorious for resisting integration into American society.

As an added bonus the Italians also brought a disproportionate amount of organized crime. If you are not wealthy enough to buy a plot of land in Italy you probably also can't afford a ticket to America and enough money to get you by until you start getting paid. To fill this need local Mafia would loan young men the money and set them up with housing, food and a job in the United States. The system was very reminiscent of indentured servitude. As you can imagine large numbers of mostly young men being led by criminals was a combination that led to lots of problems with vice, drinking, prostitution and general misbehavior.

Of all the European immigrants the Italian immigration experience is, in my opinion, the most similar to todays immigrants from South America and Mexico.

I hope the story above does not sound disparaging to either Italians or Hispanics. I feel both groups have greatly contributed to America. I simply wished to give an example of an immigrant group that also had a rocky beginning before successfully integrating into the fabric of America.