The Need for Pro-Assimilationist Policies

Over the years, an oft-made restrictionist claim has been that immigrants fail to assimilate — specifically that many fail to learn English. The empirical evidence refutes that claim. As the N.Y. Times today (here) reports, English-as-a Second-Language courses are oversubscribed.

If we truly are committed to the integration of immigrants into U.S. society, the nation should consider pro-assimilation strategies, such as ensuring adequate numbers of ESL classes.  This is precisely what the late Barbara Jordan and the U.S. Commission of Immigration Reform recommended in the 1990s.

KJ