This paper examines the socio-cultural problems affecting new immigrants. The first part presents a person-centered ecological theoretical framework with two points of departure: the individual in his/her biological cognitive and socio-cultural sphere, and the person's communicative behavior. The data is drawn largely from a 1967-1979 project in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Sweden. Parts 2 and 3 focus on information derived from answers to the questions: Do you feel at home in the country you live in at present? and What do you need in order to feel at home in this country? Part 2 deals with the socio-cultural situation of the new minorities and part 3 discusses language and culture as a source of confidence and security. Among conclusions were that host countries should help adults and children keep and develop their mother tongues and that cultural identity and mainstream integration should be fostered by educating both migrants and host peoples in ways that promote mutual understanding. All children should be taught a functional view of language and culture. A pluralistic approach based on the various needs of minority children is needed to solve educational problems. Finally, the critical use of principles of human linguistics, together with those of humanistic sociology, will provide a useful frame for future research. (CG)