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Here are two admittedly-broad characterizations.<\/p>\n
Immigration-skeptics worry that unskilled illegal (or even legal) immigrants will fail to integrate, but will instead remain a permanent underclass, performing cheap labor for wage-cutting employers and taking care of the children and lawns of the wealthy, while remaining in their narrow enclaves, making no efforts to learn English, and using up far more in government services for themselves and their children (Medicaid, food stamps, public schools including ESL and special ed services, etc.) than they will ever pay in taxes.\u00a0 Even if their children do ultimately learn English, they will not value schooling because their cultures don\u2019t, and will drop out and join gangs or have illegitimate children.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, at least the parents are be grateful for the opportunity for a higher standard of living than their home countries, and will keep their heads down to avoid deportation, but their American-born children are resentful that their standard of living is lower than that of native-born whites, and, rather than being motivated to work hard to achieve greater prosperity, they instead turn to crime and welfare dependency as ways to get what they feel they deserve.<\/p>\n
Is that fair?<\/p>\n
The other broad-brush characterization is, of course, quite the opposite:\u00a0 immigrants are good, decent, church-going people with a fantabulastic work ethic and devotion to family who want to see their children succeed.\u00a0 They care deeply about their adopted home and within one or two generations (sped up if we provide them with resources) they are just like any other Americans.<\/p>\n
So here\u2019s what gets me:<\/p>\n
Democrats strenuously object whenever anyone questions the ability of immigrants to integrate.\u00a0 Sure, we\u2019ll then get into issues of identity politics and affirmative action and the like, but the fundamental idea that there\u2019s anything about unskilled immigrants and their cultural background that prevents them from ultimately succeeding and becoming Good Americans, is deeply offensive.<\/p>\n
At the same time, they like to crow that, after the current wave of illegals is given citizenship, and, regardless, due to the effects of legal immigration, they will be guaranteed a permanent majority.\u00a0 All they need do is wait patiently enough, but eventually, they will reach a point at which they will never lose an election again, because they will be guaranteed the Hispanic vote in perpetuity.\u00a0 Most recently, see this tweet from Julian Castro:<\/p>\n
\nThe Hispanic vote in Texas will continue to increase. By 2024 Democrats can win Texas, Arizona and Florida. A big blue wall of 78 electoral votes. https:\/\/t.co\/6FT0NJyjyP<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Juli\u00e1n Castro (@JulianCastro) January 23, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n