“assimilation” as the goal of immigration policy.

In his New York Times editorial “Assimilation Nation,” Peter D. Salins, SUNY’s provost and vice chancellor, argues that “assimilation” must be the paramount goal of any immigration policy and he asserts that the status quo ensures failed assimilation. In this regard he takes aim not only at restrictionist policies that eliminate the possibility of legalization, but also at guest worker proposals. He writes:

“The most troublesome of these [immigration reform] ideas, heavily promoted by immigration proponents, would allow in a large cohort of guest workers. Guest workers (a group that would soon grow into the millions), by definition, will never become Americans. Like the Turks in Germany and guest workers in other European nations, many will not return to their native countries once their work permits are up, thus inevitably becoming the next generation of illegal aliens. Yet, the favored solution of immigration hard-liners, sealing the border, is untenable unless we also expand legal immigration pathways.”

Unfortunately, Salins does not articulate a vision of immigration reform that seems to square with current political realities. So the question is – what are the real world implications of his valid critique.

His full op-ed is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/11/opinion/11salins.html.

-jmc