Should Natural Born US Citizens have more rights than "Naturalized" US Citizens? Why or Why Not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not think there should be two tiers of citizenship, but I do think the US needs a moratorium on most immigration for at least 50 years. We’ve had way too many immigrants from too many disparate groups and cultures in too short of a period. Now we have Ilhan Omar advocating for her home country of Somalia, we have Mexicans waving the Mexican flag around, we have Indians who only hire other Indians and want to bring in lots more Indians on H1bs when Americans should get priority for those jobs. Each group is fighting for its own group and people, instead of for America.

America used to have a powerful ability to transmogrify immigrants into Anglos. We are quickly losing that ability. Today’s immigrants view America as simply an economic zone where they don’t have to give up loyalty to their home countries and people. It has destroyed social cohesion. We need at least two generations to assimilate the existing immigrants.

Have you considered that people like you--with such unthinkingly racist, hostile and arrogant mindsets--are why immigrants of color have not been able to assimilate?

The previous generations of immigrants who you claim were turned into anglos were WHITE immigrants. That has never been an option for visibly non-white immigrants. There is no pathway for immigrants of color to be accepted in America the way white immigrants were and still are. We are perpetual guests in the minds of people like you and THAT is why we cannot fully assimilate and often give up. It has nothing to do with recency of immigration and everything to do with race in this country.

Speaking as a very well-educated, worldly immigrant of color, I have found native-born Americans extremely schizophrenic in behavior. On the one hand, native-born Americans happily exploit the benefits of immigration: the contributions to the tax base, the skill set, the work ethic, and the visionary abilities that immigrants disproportionately bring to the table. On the other hand, native-born Americans dislike immigrants of color and do not see us as equals or as people. They resent and envy us the fruits of our labor when we are successful and they begrudge us the right to seek help from the systems we contribute to when we are in need. Even democrats and liberals who consider themselves our "allies" really like us only to the degree we play our assigned roles in their political machinations. Immigrants of color who are conservative can drop dead as far as democrats are concerned. Republicans typically make no bones about their disdain for us and would prefer all of us who are successful be stripped of our property and status.

White immigrants, however, are treated as legitimate Americans almost immediately. Data and experience establish that my recently naturalized blue-collar Romanian friend who has a thick accent has less to fear from ICE than I, an accentless, upper middle class citizen of 30 years. She comes and goes to Romania as she pleases. I am afraid to travel even for work because every time immigration is on the agenda, such as under Obama, Trump I, and now again, I start getting detained for extra vetting, sometimes held in rooms for hours without explanation, by TSA upon returning to the country.

When you come to America as an immigrant of color, you are initially excited about the country because you believe all the positive PR and you can't wait to begin fitting in. Eventually, however, you realize that fully assimilating into this country is not possible because the people do not want you to take your place as one of them. They want to "other" you and hold you at arm's length, pulling you close temporarily only when you can be of use to them as a political talking point, voter, exotic pet, or source of funds.

The result is that immigrants of color like me--who originally had almost exclusive American friends upon moving here, married a white American, lost my accent, and really threw myself into becoming American--find ourselves isolated and really friendless in the moments of life when we really need people to count on. We see our children othered not only by white people, but even by Americans of color, whose perception of us as white people's pets and resentment of our success, pops up at times like college admissions and job hunts.

The rejection and constant slaps force us and our children to open our eyes to the fact that we will never be American in the eyes of native-born Americans, even as they expect us to cut off all ties to our country of origin as part of a neverending loyalty test. We end up realizing that, even after decades here, the only people who are going to show up for us are still the people from our community of origin. So, we end up retreating back into pockets of our communities because that is what any logical human being would do.

It is extremely unfair and dishonest not to take stock of all the ways in which people like you, PP, smear and reject immigrants before announcing we don't want to fit in.

America has to choose between maintaining whiteness as a standard and building a cohesive nation. So far, elevating whiteness is what you are all choosing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for “national character”, I call BS. What do you think is America’s national character - New York stockbrokers, California surfers, Kansas farmers, Texas roughnecks, Hollywood filmmakers, tech billionaires, etc.? The national character of America is the melting pot.

America is not a melting pot. In a melting pot immigrants would be expected to shed their distinct cultural identities to adopt a homogenous American identity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An honest discussion...should Natural Born US Citizens have more rights than "Naturalized" US Citizens? Why or Why Not?

This spawns from Trump's goal to strip Naturalized US Citizens from their US Citizenship for criminal offenses.

I'm a Naturalized Citizen myself and it's not just Trump wanting to do this...countries in Europe are all going down the same route.

https://baltimorechronicle.com/world/2025/04/27/europe-expands-citizenship-revocation-for-crimes-and-terrorism/

I'm a dual citizen of the US and a European country. I honestly do think that if a naturalized citizen does a horrific crime either in the US or the country I am from...that stripping the criminal of that citizenship should be on the table. Stripping them of citizenship does not necessarily mean deporting them. Just back to "green card" status - not eligible to vote...make them start all over to gain citizenship - work for it -- meaning no criminal activity for say 1 year in order to be eligible for citizenship. I don't think this is all that crazy.

The only crazy thing is the huge bureaucratic nightmare that it would entail. The principle behind it is sound, but the huge administrative cost this would entail is what IMHO would outweigh the benefit. Lack of cost benefit analysis.

Then there's the sound argument about addressing criminals who are natural born citizens - they get special treatment? It is indeed a slippery slope.

You are an effing fool!

[Anonymous]

Naturalization denouncing of dual citizenship should be enforced period

[Anonymous]

I think sitting members of Congress who wave a foreign nation’s flag from the rooftop of their home to taunt those they serve (like Senator Fetterman) should be immediately censured, impeached and expelled from their seat, prosecuted for the crime of treason, and sentenced accordingly.

Thereafter, they should be picked up by ICE promptly at the time of discharge from their sentence and deported to that foreign nation whose 3’ x 5’ flag they just so happened to have in their home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. Having a tiered system with second-class citizens is antithetical to the idea of equality that is central to our national identity. If a naturalized citizen breaks the law, they can go to American jail as an American citizen, along with the natural born American criminals.

Moreover, the Constitution designates both those born in America and those naturalized as citizens, without expressing one route to citizenship as another. If we allow Trump (or anyone) to say that birthright citizenship no longer applies or that naturalized citizens can have their citizenship revoked if they commit crimes, then nobody’s citizenship is guaranteed. The definition of “crime” is a lot more flexible than the definition of citizenship. Moreover, there is a set process to change the Constitution through amendment. It isn’t easy or quick, and it was deliberately designed that way. If we allow the government to override any part of the Constitution (which guarantees our freedom) without following the amendment process, the Constitution is broken and with its loss goes our freedom.

As for “national character”, I call BS. What do you think is America’s national character - New York stockbrokers, California surfers, Kansas farmers, Texas roughnecks, Hollywood filmmakers, tech billionaires, etc.? The national character of America is the melting pot. We are a very large nation of immigrants and our culture reflects the melding of those who came here, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or were here long before the pilgrims. Aside from the Native Americans who were already here, early New York settlers were Dutch, Louisiana was colonized by the French, and the Spanish explorers starting with Columbus and followed by the conquistadors, left their marks on “the new world”, conquering much of what is now America. Enslaved Africans brought their culture with them, and while much was lost, what remained was embedded in America’s character. Wave after wave of immigrants has come to America, and while many were reviled at the time, they eventually melded into America, integrating parts of their cultures into the “American” culture and assimilating to the point that they could revile the next wave of “other” immigrants, at least until their culture had been similarly integrated in its turn. This is the problem with all those aghast at “cultural appropriation” - it is actually the larger society recognizing value in something new and wanting to adopt it to enrich it’s own culture. It’s the defining feature of American culture that we can find things to value in other cultures to add to our own, while respecting that we are all Americans and that our differences make us stronger.

The common culture in America is still Anglo. If you were born and raised in the US, and you visit another Anglo country, you will feel at home there. If you go to Somalia etc, you will not feel at home there unless you have recent ties to the country.

The United States is the second largest Spanish speaking country in the world and includes many people whose ancestors were Mexican until the borders changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not think there should be two tiers of citizenship, but I do think the US needs a moratorium on most immigration for at least 50 years. We’ve had way too many immigrants from too many disparate groups and cultures in too short of a period. Now we have Ilhan Omar advocating for her home country of Somalia, we have Mexicans waving the Mexican flag around, we have Indians who only hire other Indians and want to bring in lots more Indians on H1bs when Americans should get priority for those jobs. Each group is fighting for its own group and people, instead of for America.

America used to have a powerful ability to transmogrify immigrants into Anglos. We are quickly losing that ability. Today’s immigrants view America as simply an economic zone where they don’t have to give up loyalty to their home countries and people. It has destroyed social cohesion. We need at least two generations to assimilate the existing immigrants.

Have you considered that people like you--with such unthinkingly racist, hostile and arrogant mindsets--are why immigrants of color have not been able to assimilate?

The previous generations of immigrants who you claim were turned into anglos were WHITE immigrants. That has never been an option for visibly non-white immigrants. There is no pathway for immigrants of color to be accepted in America the way white immigrants were and still are. We are perpetual guests in the minds of people like you and THAT is why we cannot fully assimilate and often give up. It has nothing to do with recency of immigration and everything to do with race in this country.

Speaking as a very well-educated, worldly immigrant of color, I have found native-born Americans extremely schizophrenic in behavior. On the one hand, native-born Americans happily exploit the benefits of immigration: the contributions to the tax base, the skill set, the work ethic, and the visionary abilities that immigrants disproportionately bring to the table. On the other hand, native-born Americans dislike immigrants of color and do not see us as equals or as people. They resent and envy us the fruits of our labor when we are successful and they begrudge us the right to seek help from the systems we contribute to when we are in need. Even democrats and liberals who consider themselves our "allies" really like us only to the degree we play our assigned roles in their political machinations. Immigrants of color who are conservative can drop dead as far as democrats are concerned. Republicans typically make no bones about their disdain for us and would prefer all of us who are successful be stripped of our property and status.

White immigrants, however, are treated as legitimate Americans almost immediately. Data and experience establish that my recently naturalized blue-collar Romanian friend who has a thick accent has less to fear from ICE than I, an accentless, upper middle class citizen of 30 years. She comes and goes to Romania as she pleases. I am afraid to travel even for work because every time immigration is on the agenda, such as under Obama, Trump I, and now again, I start getting detained for extra vetting, sometimes held in rooms for hours without explanation, by TSA upon returning to the country.

When you come to America as an immigrant of color, you are initially excited about the country because you believe all the positive PR and you can't wait to begin fitting in. Eventually, however, you realize that fully assimilating into this country is not possible because the people do not want you to take your place as one of them. They want to "other" you and hold you at arm's length, pulling you close temporarily only when you can be of use to them as a political talking point, voter, exotic pet, or source of funds.

The result is that immigrants of color like me--who originally had almost exclusive American friends upon moving here, married a white American, lost my accent, and really threw myself into becoming American--find ourselves isolated and really friendless in the moments of life when we really need people to count on. We see our children othered not only by white people, but even by Americans of color, whose perception of us as white people's pets and resentment of our success, pops up at times like college admissions and job hunts.

The rejection and constant slaps force us and our children to open our eyes to the fact that we will never be American in the eyes of native-born Americans, even as they expect us to cut off all ties to our country of origin as part of a neverending loyalty test. We end up realizing that, even after decades here, the only people who are going to show up for us are still the people from our community of origin. So, we end up retreating back into pockets of our communities because that is what any logical human being would do.

It is extremely unfair and dishonest not to take stock of all the ways in which people like you, PP, smear and reject immigrants before announcing we don't want to fit in.

America has to choose between maintaining whiteness as a standard and building a cohesive nation. So far, elevating whiteness is what you are all choosing.

I imagine when you bring your mixed-race children to your country of origin, they, too, experience that sense of not belonging.

[Anonymous]

We should have a 3-tier citizenship system …

1. Natural born citizen
2. Naturalized citizen born in Canada or Mexico
3. Naturalized citizen born elsewhere

It should require a higher threshold to de-naturalize a citizen who was born in Canada or Mexico than one who was born in Russia, China, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.

[Anonymous]

No. The only people who should get more rights are Native Americans. In fact, anyone NOT native America should self deport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. Having a tiered system with second-class citizens is antithetical to the idea of equality that is central to our national identity. If a naturalized citizen breaks the law, they can go to American jail as an American citizen, along with the natural born American criminals.

Moreover, the Constitution designates both those born in America and those naturalized as citizens, without expressing one route to citizenship as another. If we allow Trump (or anyone) to say that birthright citizenship no longer applies or that naturalized citizens can have their citizenship revoked if they commit crimes, then nobody’s citizenship is guaranteed. The definition of “crime” is a lot more flexible than the definition of citizenship. Moreover, there is a set process to change the Constitution through amendment. It isn’t easy or quick, and it was deliberately designed that way. If we allow the government to override any part of the Constitution (which guarantees our freedom) without following the amendment process, the Constitution is broken and with its loss goes our freedom.

As for “national character”, I call BS. What do you think is America’s national character - New York stockbrokers, California surfers, Kansas farmers, Texas roughnecks, Hollywood filmmakers, tech billionaires, etc.? The national character of America is the melting pot. We are a very large nation of immigrants and our culture reflects the melding of those who came here, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or were here long before the pilgrims. Aside from the Native Americans who were already here, early New York settlers were Dutch, Louisiana was colonized by the French, and the Spanish explorers starting with Columbus and followed by the conquistadors, left their marks on “the new world”, conquering much of what is now America. Enslaved Africans brought their culture with them, and while much was lost, what remained was embedded in America’s character. Wave after wave of immigrants has come to America, and while many were reviled at the time, they eventually melded into America, integrating parts of their cultures into the “American” culture and assimilating to the point that they could revile the next wave of “other” immigrants, at least until their culture had been similarly integrated in its turn. This is the problem with all those aghast at “cultural appropriation” - it is actually the larger society recognizing value in something new and wanting to adopt it to enrich it’s own culture. It’s the defining feature of American culture that we can find things to value in other cultures to add to our own, while respecting that we are all Americans and that our differences make us stronger.

The common culture in America is still Anglo. If you were born and raised in the US, and you visit another Anglo country, you will feel at home there. If you go to Somalia etc, you will not feel at home there unless you have recent ties to the country.

The United States is the second largest Spanish speaking country in the world and includes many people whose ancestors were Mexican until the borders changed.

The dominant culture is still Anglo at this point. If enough Mexicans come here, it will cease to be America and will become another Mexico.

Spanish would become the primary language. Public signage, education, media, and government services would primarily operate in Spanish.

The dominant religion would become Catholic. Mexican cuisines, music and holidays would dominate.

Mexico’s GDP per capita is roughly $13,000 compared to the U.S.’s $81,000. If Mexicans retained their current economic behaviors and systems, the U.S. economy might contract significantly due to differences in industrial output, education levels, and infrastructure.

Mexico’s labor force participation rate is around 60%, with lower average educational attainment.

Mexico has higher income inequality which could lead to greater socioeconomic disparities in the U.S.

Mexico has a history of centralized power and periods of single-party dominance. If Mexicans brought their political norms, the U.S. might see a shift toward a stronger executive influence. Corruption permeates Mexican governance and society.

Mexico’s homicide rate is around 28 per 100,000 people, compared to the U.S.’s 5 per 100,000 (2023 data). If crime patterns followed, parts of the U.S. could see increased violence, particularly in areas affected by cartel-like activity.

The U.S.’s vast infrastructure (e.g., highways, tech networks) would initially remain, but maintenance and adaptation would depend on the new population’s priorities and expertise. Mexico’s less developed infrastructure suggests potential challenges in sustaining U.S.-level systems without significant investment.

America doesn’t have magic soil. Culture comes from the people. If you remove the people, you no longer have the culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for “national character”, I call BS. What do you think is America’s national character - New York stockbrokers, California surfers, Kansas farmers, Texas roughnecks, Hollywood filmmakers, tech billionaires, etc.? The national character of America is the melting pot.

America is not a melting pot. In a melting pot immigrants would be expected to shed their distinct cultural identities to adopt a homogenous American identity.

No more St Patrick’s Day, I guess.

You are very silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not think there should be two tiers of citizenship, but I do think the US needs a moratorium on most immigration for at least 50 years. We’ve had way too many immigrants from too many disparate groups and cultures in too short of a period. Now we have Ilhan Omar advocating for her home country of Somalia, we have Mexicans waving the Mexican flag around, we have Indians who only hire other Indians and want to bring in lots more Indians on H1bs when Americans should get priority for those jobs. Each group is fighting for its own group and people, instead of for America.

America used to have a powerful ability to transmogrify immigrants into Anglos. We are quickly losing that ability. Today’s immigrants view America as simply an economic zone where they don’t have to give up loyalty to their home countries and people. It has destroyed social cohesion. We need at least two generations to assimilate the existing immigrants.

Have you considered that people like you--with such unthinkingly racist, hostile and arrogant mindsets--are why immigrants of color have not been able to assimilate?

The previous generations of immigrants who you claim were turned into anglos were WHITE immigrants. That has never been an option for visibly non-white immigrants. There is no pathway for immigrants of color to be accepted in America the way white immigrants were and still are. We are perpetual guests in the minds of people like you and THAT is why we cannot fully assimilate and often give up. It has nothing to do with recency of immigration and everything to do with race in this country.

Speaking as a very well-educated, worldly immigrant of color, I have found native-born Americans extremely schizophrenic in behavior. On the one hand, native-born Americans happily exploit the benefits of immigration: the contributions to the tax base, the skill set, the work ethic, and the visionary abilities that immigrants disproportionately bring to the table. On the other hand, native-born Americans dislike immigrants of color and do not see us as equals or as people. They resent and envy us the fruits of our labor when we are successful and they begrudge us the right to seek help from the systems we contribute to when we are in need. Even democrats and liberals who consider themselves our "allies" really like us only to the degree we play our assigned roles in their political machinations. Immigrants of color who are conservative can drop dead as far as democrats are concerned. Republicans typically make no bones about their disdain for us and would prefer all of us who are successful be stripped of our property and status.

White immigrants, however, are treated as legitimate Americans almost immediately. Data and experience establish that my recently naturalized blue-collar Romanian friend who has a thick accent has less to fear from ICE than I, an accentless, upper middle class citizen of 30 years. She comes and goes to Romania as she pleases. I am afraid to travel even for work because every time immigration is on the agenda, such as under Obama, Trump I, and now again, I start getting detained for extra vetting, sometimes held in rooms for hours without explanation, by TSA upon returning to the country.

When you come to America as an immigrant of color, you are initially excited about the country because you believe all the positive PR and you can't wait to begin fitting in. Eventually, however, you realize that fully assimilating into this country is not possible because the people do not want you to take your place as one of them. They want to "other" you and hold you at arm's length, pulling you close temporarily only when you can be of use to them as a political talking point, voter, exotic pet, or source of funds.

The result is that immigrants of color like me--who originally had almost exclusive American friends upon moving here, married a white American, lost my accent, and really threw myself into becoming American--find ourselves isolated and really friendless in the moments of life when we really need people to count on. We see our children othered not only by white people, but even by Americans of color, whose perception of us as white people's pets and resentment of our success, pops up at times like college admissions and job hunts.

The rejection and constant slaps force us and our children to open our eyes to the fact that we will never be American in the eyes of native-born Americans, even as they expect us to cut off all ties to our country of origin as part of a neverending loyalty test. We end up realizing that, even after decades here, the only people who are going to show up for us are still the people from our community of origin. So, we end up retreating back into pockets of our communities because that is what any logical human being would do.

It is extremely unfair and dishonest not to take stock of all the ways in which people like you, PP, smear and reject immigrants before announcing we don't want to fit in.

America has to choose between maintaining whiteness as a standard and building a cohesive nation. So far, elevating whiteness is what you are all choosing.

I imagine when you bring your mixed-race children to your country of origin, they, too, experience that sense of not belonging.

PP here. It's understandable you'd imagine that since white people here like to reject half-white children whose other half isn't white. That's not how it works in my country, however.

[Anonymous]

Why?! WTF? I’m naturalized as is my parents. My father joined the US military and has served for 25 years. I became naturalized when I was 7. Depressing I even have to worry about my status as a citizen because I happen to be brown and born in another country. I’ve been living in the US for 36 years. My husband has also served in the military for 16 years. How is this even a question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely not. Having a tiered system with second-class citizens is antithetical to the idea of equality that is central to our national identity. If a naturalized citizen breaks the law, they can go to American jail as an American citizen, along with the natural born American criminals.

Moreover, the Constitution designates both those born in America and those naturalized as citizens, without expressing one route to citizenship as another. If we allow Trump (or anyone) to say that birthright citizenship no longer applies or that naturalized citizens can have their citizenship revoked if they commit crimes, then nobody’s citizenship is guaranteed. The definition of “crime” is a lot more flexible than the definition of citizenship. Moreover, there is a set process to change the Constitution through amendment. It isn’t easy or quick, and it was deliberately designed that way. If we allow the government to override any part of the Constitution (which guarantees our freedom) without following the amendment process, the Constitution is broken and with its loss goes our freedom.

As for “national character”, I call BS. What do you think is America’s national character - New York stockbrokers, California surfers, Kansas farmers, Texas roughnecks, Hollywood filmmakers, tech billionaires, etc.? The national character of America is the melting pot. We are a very large nation of immigrants and our culture reflects the melding of those who came here, whether voluntarily, involuntarily, or were here long before the pilgrims. Aside from the Native Americans who were already here, early New York settlers were Dutch, Louisiana was colonized by the French, and the Spanish explorers starting with Columbus and followed by the conquistadors, left their marks on “the new world”, conquering much of what is now America. Enslaved Africans brought their culture with them, and while much was lost, what remained was embedded in America’s character. Wave after wave of immigrants has come to America, and while many were reviled at the time, they eventually melded into America, integrating parts of their cultures into the “American” culture and assimilating to the point that they could revile the next wave of “other” immigrants, at least until their culture had been similarly integrated in its turn. This is the problem with all those aghast at “cultural appropriation” - it is actually the larger society recognizing value in something new and wanting to adopt it to enrich it’s own culture. It’s the defining feature of American culture that we can find things to value in other cultures to add to our own, while respecting that we are all Americans and that our differences make us stronger.

The common culture in America is still Anglo. If you were born and raised in the US, and you visit another Anglo country, you will feel at home there. If you go to Somalia etc, you will not feel at home there unless you have recent ties to the country.

The United States is the second largest Spanish speaking country in the world and includes many people whose ancestors were Mexican until the borders changed.

The dominant culture is still Anglo at this point. If enough Mexicans come here, it will cease to be America and will become another Mexico.

Spanish would become the primary language. Public signage, education, media, and government services would primarily operate in Spanish.

The dominant religion would become Catholic. Mexican cuisines, music and holidays would dominate.

Mexico’s GDP per capita is roughly $13,000 compared to the U.S.’s $81,000. If Mexicans retained their current economic behaviors and systems, the U.S. economy might contract significantly due to differences in industrial output, education levels, and infrastructure.

Mexico’s labor force participation rate is around 60%, with lower average educational attainment.

Mexico has higher income inequality which could lead to greater socioeconomic disparities in the U.S.

Mexico has a history of centralized power and periods of single-party dominance. If Mexicans brought their political norms, the U.S. might see a shift toward a stronger executive influence. Corruption permeates Mexican governance and society.

Mexico’s homicide rate is around 28 per 100,000 people, compared to the U.S.’s 5 per 100,000 (2023 data). If crime patterns followed, parts of the U.S. could see increased violence, particularly in areas affected by cartel-like activity.

The U.S.’s vast infrastructure (e.g., highways, tech networks) would initially remain, but maintenance and adaptation would depend on the new population’s priorities and expertise. Mexico’s less developed infrastructure suggests potential challenges in sustaining U.S.-level systems without significant investment.

America doesn’t have magic soil. Culture comes from the people. If you remove the people, you no longer have the culture.

No, the United States is not culturally homogeneous. It is a highly diverse nation with a wide range of ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. This diversity is a result of ongoing immigration and historical influences from various parts of the world.
Here's why:
Immigration:
The US has a long history of immigration, with people from nearly every country in the world settling there.
Diverse Population:
The US population includes people from various racial and ethnic groups, different religions, and diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
Varied Cultural Influences:
From its colonial beginnings to the present day, the US has absorbed cultural influences from Europe, Africa, Asia, and other regions.
Not a Monoethnic Nation:
Unlike some countries with a single dominant ethnicity, the US has always been a mix of different groups.
Increasing Diversity:
Data from the US Census Bureau shows that the US population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse over time, particularly among younger generations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not think there should be two tiers of citizenship, but I do think the US needs a moratorium on most immigration for at least 50 years. We’ve had way too many immigrants from too many disparate groups and cultures in too short of a period. Now we have Ilhan Omar advocating for her home country of Somalia, we have Mexicans waving the Mexican flag around, we have Indians who only hire other Indians and want to bring in lots more Indians on H1bs when Americans should get priority for those jobs. Each group is fighting for its own group and people, instead of for America.

America used to have a powerful ability to transmogrify immigrants into Anglos. We are quickly losing that ability. Today’s immigrants view America as simply an economic zone where they don’t have to give up loyalty to their home countries and people. It has destroyed social cohesion. We need at least two generations to assimilate the existing immigrants.

Have you considered that people like you--with such unthinkingly racist, hostile and arrogant mindsets--are why immigrants of color have not been able to assimilate?

The previous generations of immigrants who you claim were turned into anglos were WHITE immigrants. That has never been an option for visibly non-white immigrants. There is no pathway for immigrants of color to be accepted in America the way white immigrants were and still are. We are perpetual guests in the minds of people like you and THAT is why we cannot fully assimilate and often give up. It has nothing to do with recency of immigration and everything to do with race in this country.

Speaking as a very well-educated, worldly immigrant of color, I have found native-born Americans extremely schizophrenic in behavior. On the one hand, native-born Americans happily exploit the benefits of immigration: the contributions to the tax base, the skill set, the work ethic, and the visionary abilities that immigrants disproportionately bring to the table. On the other hand, native-born Americans dislike immigrants of color and do not see us as equals or as people. They resent and envy us the fruits of our labor when we are successful and they begrudge us the right to seek help from the systems we contribute to when we are in need. Even democrats and liberals who consider themselves our "allies" really like us only to the degree we play our assigned roles in their political machinations. Immigrants of color who are conservative can drop dead as far as democrats are concerned. Republicans typically make no bones about their disdain for us and would prefer all of us who are successful be stripped of our property and status.

White immigrants, however, are treated as legitimate Americans almost immediately. Data and experience establish that my recently naturalized blue-collar Romanian friend who has a thick accent has less to fear from ICE than I, an accentless, upper middle class citizen of 30 years. She comes and goes to Romania as she pleases. I am afraid to travel even for work because every time immigration is on the agenda, such as under Obama, Trump I, and now again, I start getting detained for extra vetting, sometimes held in rooms for hours without explanation, by TSA upon returning to the country.

When you come to America as an immigrant of color, you are initially excited about the country because you believe all the positive PR and you can't wait to begin fitting in. Eventually, however, you realize that fully assimilating into this country is not possible because the people do not want you to take your place as one of them. They want to "other" you and hold you at arm's length, pulling you close temporarily only when you can be of use to them as a political talking point, voter, exotic pet, or source of funds.

The result is that immigrants of color like me--who originally had almost exclusive American friends upon moving here, married a white American, lost my accent, and really threw myself into becoming American--find ourselves isolated and really friendless in the moments of life when we really need people to count on. We see our children othered not only by white people, but even by Americans of color, whose perception of us as white people's pets and resentment of our success, pops up at times like college admissions and job hunts.

The rejection and constant slaps force us and our children to open our eyes to the fact that we will never be American in the eyes of native-born Americans, even as they expect us to cut off all ties to our country of origin as part of a neverending loyalty test. We end up realizing that, even after decades here, the only people who are going to show up for us are still the people from our community of origin. So, we end up retreating back into pockets of our communities because that is what any logical human being would do.

It is extremely unfair and dishonest not to take stock of all the ways in which people like you, PP, smear and reject immigrants before announcing we don't want to fit in.

America has to choose between maintaining whiteness as a standard and building a cohesive nation. So far, elevating whiteness is what you are all choosing.

I imagine when you bring your mixed-race children to your country of origin, they, too, experience that sense of not belonging.

PP here. It's understandable you'd imagine that since white people here like to reject half-white children whose other half isn't white. That's not how it works in my country, however.

Well you need to share your country, then. Because I guarantee that once you do, all of its hypocrisy and terrible events will be revealed. Smugness is often the result of ignorance.