Nov 9, 2014

Mexican mariachis, Chinese foot massage parlours, Persian ice cream and Korean karaoke bars: Los Angeles is more than just Hollywood, sunshine and surfing.

: A man walks past a mural showing the Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan and United States flags surrounding the Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican and Central American migrants, in California August 6, 2014.

: Mahlet Mogas, 5, stands with an arm around a parking meter decorated with wool in the colours of the Ethiopian flag in the Little Ethiopia area of Los Angeles, California September 14, 2014.

: Sena Nagata, 7, Lana Osumi, 8, and Seri Nagata, 4, (L-R) wave as they watch a parade in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles, California August 10, 2014.

: A man cycles through Chinatown in Los Angeles, California August 13, 2014.

: Miyako Cai (2nd L), 26, chats to friends as she walks out of a Japanese supermarket in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles, California August 10, 2014.

: A man stands in a store selling lanterns in Chinatown in Los Angeles, California August 13, 2014.

: Johney Yu (2nd R), 75, who emigrated from China 40 years ago, and Diana Yang (L), who emigrated from China 28 years ago, practice tai chi at a daily class in Alhambra, home of many Chinese and Vietnamese migrants, in California August 14, 2014.

: Men play cards in Mariachi Plaza in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican and Central American migrants, California August 9, 2014.

: People walk past a gas station as a Russian Orthodox Church is seen in the distance in Hollywood, California August 11, 2014.

: A man walks past the kosher Schwartz Bakery in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, California August 14, 2014. Los Angeles is a culturally thriving city and one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States, with a population that is 48.5 percent Latino and 11.3 percent Asian, according to a 2010 census.

: A combination photograph shows Los Angeles area street signs which mark the boundaries of neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Pedro, California in pictures taken between August 7 to 19, 2014. The Little Lithuania sign has been approved by the city, but not put up yet, and is held by Joseph Pupius, 79, who is from Lithuania.

: A mariachi musician walks past a mural in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican migrants, in California August 5, 2014.

: A man walks past a mural in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican and Central American migrants, in California August 5, 2014.

: Mariachi musician Moises Rivera, 60, waits for a gig in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican and Central American migrants, in California August 9, 2014.

: A woman cycles past a mall sign in Korean in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, California August 12, 2014.

: A man cooks meat in a shopping cart in the Westlake area of Los Angeles, home to many Mexican and Central American migrants, California August 6, 2014.

: Mimi Pineda, 15, (L) whose parents are from El Salvador, rides to church in a limousine with her friend Christian Flores, 17, during her quinceanera in Santa Clarita, California August 23, 2014.

: A woman poses for a friend’s photo in the Little Ethiopia area of Los Angeles, California September 14, 2014.

: Mimi Pineda (L), 15, whose parents are from El Salvador, stands outside her aunt’s house with Maybelin Ramirez, 6, before her quinceanera in Santa Clarita, California August 23, 2014. Quinceanera is a rite of passage celebrated on the fifteenth birthday of many female Latino teenager.

: Megan Moshar (R), 26, who is of Persian, German and Filipino descent, dances with her husband George Safar, 27, whose parents are from Syria, as they are both lifted into the air during their wedding reception in Pasadena, California August 16, 2014.

: Megan Moshar (centre R), 26, who is of Persian, German and Filipino descent, walks down the aisle with her new husband George Safar, 27, whose parents are from Syria, at their wedding in Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, California August 16, 2014.

: A woman walks past a mural of a pair of wings, under another mural depicting former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (2nd L) and former South Korean president Kim Dae-jung (2nd R) on either side of a South Korean flag, hanging above Dan Sung Sa restaurant and bar in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, California August 14, 2014.

: Retired professor Carlos Jainga, 71 (6th R) and his wife Estrella Jainga, 68, (L) attend a farewell party for their friend Dolores Saballo, 65, (R) who is returning to the Philippines, at a park in Torrance, California September 30, 2014.

: Sarah Kim (L), who emigrated from South Korea, meditates with Sabina Mayorga, 4, whose parents are from Mexico, at Lu Mountain Buddhist Temple in Rosemead, California August 15, 2014.

: Sung Min See, 16, Jaewoong Lee, 17, Joon Kim, 16, and Jason Jung, 18, (L-R), who all emigrated from Seoul, South Korea, sing in a karaoke cafe in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, California August 11, 2014.

Reuters photographer Lucy Nicholson documented some of the migrant communities that live in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a culturally thriving city and one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States, with a population that is 48.5 percent Latino and 11.3 percent Asian, according to a 2010 census.

Immigration has become a hot button issue ahead of U.S. midterm elections, and despite arguments from the White House that legal migration benefits businesses, a recent opinion poll found most Americans believe migrants place a burden on the economy.

The world in a city: Los Angeles

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