So Many Components to this Issue (medical, birth, immigrants, regime)

[Redrover]

Immigration in and of itself is not the villain here. As we all well know, this country was built on immigration; very few of us are full-blooded decendants of Native Americans. But that being said, the issues that divide us today are many. Back during the golden age of immigration (1800s & early part of 1900s) people coming into this country primarily came through one portal, Ellis Island. When they entered this country we knew who they were, where they came from, where they were going and if they were healthy. Now, our borders are so poorly secured that we have no idea who comes here and where they are. Once those early immigrants arrived they immediately began to assimilate into the American culture and there was no such thing as bilingual classes or "press 1 to continue in English." Everything was English so there was a real incentive to learn the language of this country. Sure, there were some elderly immigrants who struggled with the language but their goal was citizenship and that required English. Now-a-days there is all the talk about "multi-culturalism" which flies in the face of the assimilation that earlier generations strove for. Granted the earlier immigrants faced much of the same ostracism from the WASPish earlier Americans (no one thought much of the Irish, the Italians, the Poles, the Jews etc.) but once the children of these immigrants went to school, made friends, finished school and went to work, the assimilation had begun. And everybody spoke English.

Fast forward to today when so many immigrants come here illegally and we have no idea who they are and where they are. If you live in a border state then you know how much of your tax money goes to providing free education and medical care for people not on the tax rolls. Also, because the very illegality of the situation breeds a huge increase in the crime rate and that adds to the cost. An exception to this pattern was the large influx of Cubans into south Florida. These were people fleeing the oppressive regime of Fidel Castro and they came with skills and ambition. Although they almost overwhelmed the native Floridians, they worked hard, paid taxes, learned English and made very productive lives.

The very qualities that make this country so desireable for foreigners is rapdily being overwhelmed by the massive influx of undocumented immigrants.
We can't continue to provide economic support to the streaming influx of humanity that slip across our borders daily nor should we have to. The very character of our cities and states is being changed with no end in sight. Before long we will be a nation of minorities and the birthrate of these minorities far exceeds that of "native Americans."

Multi-culturalism is the antithesis of assimilation. If we don't insist that all (legal) immigrants become Americans then one day soon there won't be any such thing. Just about every other country in the world has stricter immigration policies than we do but we are the only one who seems to be criticized for ours. Maybe it's time to re-work the invitation at the base of the Statue of Liberty and put the brakes on the ''huddled masses" streaming across our borders.