The American Dream at Risk: Expert Says “Americanization” is Key to Solving Immigration Issues
A leading expert warns that America’s immigration challenges will persist if the nation’s leaders don’t reaffirm the importance of becoming American.
Mark Krikorian, head of the Center for Immigration Studies, believes that a core problem is the rejection of American identity by many in positions of power. He argues that these leaders have made “assimilation” a negative concept by doubting the value and uniqueness of the United States.
Krikorian suggests that some leaders don’t see a significant difference between living in America and living in other countries. This lack of emphasis on national identity makes it difficult for newcomers to fully integrate into American society.
He points out that the modern left often views immigration laws as unfair, believing that anyone who wants to move to America should be allowed to do so. This perspective makes it difficult to enforce immigration laws, as some view it as immoral to remove those who are not legally authorized to be here.
Krikorian stresses that, unlike in the past, many of today’s leaders don’t believe in assimilation, viewing “Americanization” as an outdated idea. He contrasts this with earlier generations, where schools actively taught American values and history.
He believes that until leaders promote a strong sense of American identity, admitting large numbers of people – even legally – may not be beneficial for the country.
While the current administration has focused on enforcing immigration laws and deporting those here illegally, Krikorian notes that this alone won’t solve the underlying problem. The percentage of foreign-born residents in the U.S. is at a record high, and technology allows immigrants to maintain strong ties to their home countries, potentially slowing the assimilation process.
Krikorian proposes that American leaders, from the President to teachers, should champion American identity. He sees the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as an opportunity to revitalize the narrative that America is a great nation and encourage newcomers to embrace its values.
He concludes that while Americanizing immigrants is more difficult today, it is still possible if the nation chooses to respond to the challenge.
