Any country that has to deal with massive amounts of immigration
is bound to experience some difficulties when developing policy
regulating migration. There are many different approaches that
one may take in addressing the issue and they are often at odds
with each other. Generally, one can divide ideas on migration
into two categories: multiculturalism and assimilationism.
Assimilationism is what is often referred to the melting-pot
look at immigration. It is the policy that the United States
held in the days of Ellis and Angel island immigration. At the
time, this outlook was hailed as one of great ethical standing.
Instead of pushing immigrants into slums and creating laws that
limited their ability to participate in society, America
intended to fold them into the culture of the United States.
Imagine general groups of immigrants being represented by
certain metallic ores being thrown into a crucible where they
are melted together, form an alloy and become a stronger
substance than any of the parts alone.