Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907.
"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."
Theodore Roosevelt 1907
I agree that if an immigrant comes to America, he should assimilate to our culture. that doesn't mean he ignores his culture of birth. I grew up in a small coal mining/lumber town where there was a big influx of Italians back in the 1910s-20s. Many didn't speak English. But they learned it. I knew many of these folks growing up with a thick Italian accent. They became American and fought for the US in WWII-some in Italy. But these folks kept their own heritage alive in the food they ate, the social activities they enjoyed and the religion they practiced. There was no Catholic Church (or hospital) until the Italians arrived.
Today we see the same thing with many of our mexican/latin immigrants. The US military is made up of a very large proportion of soldiers of Hispanic descent. They have brought their culture to the US but are willing to fight for their country. I'm sure there are many exceptions to immigrants assimilating. But the premise has always been the same-people come here looking for a better life. It's what we've always stood for. But today, thanks in large part for the wingnuts' hatred of our President, there is a wave of xenophobia sweeping the US-and fueled by the usual suspects. Granted, with the risk of terrorists disguising themselves as immigrants to enter the US, we need to do our due diligence. But the pants shitting by the wingnuts over this is unAmerican.