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Legal immigration is the source of very little political contention. This page should either redirect to Illegal immigration to the United States, about which there actually is debate, or be deleted. - Schrandit (talk) 22:18, 18 August 2008 (UTC)
--Ramsey2006 (talk) 12:32, 29 August 2008 (UTC)THE DEBATE IN THE UNITED STATES OVER IMMIGRATION
By Daphne Spain
Immigration to the United States has been so extensive during the past two decades that it appears the century will end as it began, with healthy debates about how immigrants fit into the ideal U.S. society.
Do we celebrate cultural differences or try to minimize them? Should ethnic and racial boundaries be erased through assimilation of immigrants by blurring differences to achieve a melting pot, or should racial and ethnic differences be maintained to create a stronger pluralistic society?
There is a healthy degree of support for each point of view. A nationwide survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center in 1994 included the following statement: "Some people say that it is better for America if different racial and ethnic groups maintain their distinct cultures. Others say it is better if groups change so that they blend into the larger society as in the idea of a melting pot." People were asked to rank their opinions on a scale ranging from "maintaining distinct cultures" (pluralism) to "blending into the larger society" (assimilation). Roughly one-third of Americans thought pluralism was the best route, one-third endorsed assimilation, and one-third found themselves somewhere in between.[1]