Immigration: The American Difference

There is no question that illegal immigration into the United States is a serious problem, but looking at Western Europe, where the massive influx of even fully legal immigrants has raised great difficulties, helps put that problem in perspective.

One of the most nuanced treatments of the topic is Theodore Dalrymple’s long piece in the Spring issue of City Journal . Dalrymple’s focus is on his native Britain, but he also takes a comparative look at France. He concludes that the British and the French need to learn from each other . . . so as to both become more like the United States. That is, the British need to develop a strong sense of national identity (like France and the U.S.), while the French need to discourage communal isolation among immigrant groups by creating a culture of free enterprise (like Britain and the U.S.).

It’s always good to be reminded of how marvelous the alchemy that maintains this republic really is.