Who are the greatest Latino optimists in the United States? According to a recent Pew Report, Mexicans and Salvadorans share a positive image of the U.S.

"Many believe that people who move to the U.S. lead a better life, and most of those who have family or friends who migrated say they have accomplished their goals while there," the report states. "Salvadorans, 67 percent of whom have family or friends in the U.S., express particularly favorable opinions of the U.S.; nearly six-in-ten would move to there if they could. Many fewer Mexicans (35 percent) they say the same."

The outpouring of optimism also comes with a sense of security in the U.S. because both countries see the public safety situation at home as "dire."

"Broad majorities are very concerned about crime - specifically, violence associated with urban gangs in El Salvador and drug cartels in Mexico. People overwhelmingly want the government to focus on maintaining law and order rather than protecting personal freedoms. And there is widespread support in both countries for the army playing a major role in the fight against crime."

While drug-related violence is common and a reason while numerous people flee their countries, there are other issues that compete with these concerns - in Mexico, seven-in-ten say human rights violations by the military and police are a very big problem, while nine-in-ten Salvadorans say this about pollution in their country.

Despite issues involving immigration reform, the American dream still thrives and Mexicans and Salvadorians believe the U.S. promises a better life.

Broad majorities of Salvadorans (79 percent) and Mexicans (66 percent) have a favorable opinion of the U.S. In addition, ratings for the U.S. have improved over the past few years in Mexico, from a low of 44 percent favorable right after the passage of Arizona's restrictive immigration law in 2010.

While both countries believe people who leave their country for the U.S. ultimately lead a better life, Salvadorans have a more positive picture of emigrating.

A 47 percent-plurality of Mexicans say their countrymen have a better life in the U.S., while nearly two-thirds of Salvadorans (64 percent) say the same. Fewer than two-in-ten in either country believe things are worse for those who move north, and roughly three-in-ten say things are neither better nor worse.

These are among the key findings from a survey by the Pew Research Center of 792 people in El Salvador conducted from April 18 to May 1, 2013 and 1,000 in Mexico from March 4 to March 17, 2013.