Maybe it is time to close the "open door" and turn off the "light" that attracts so many immgrants who do not intend to assimilate, but change us.

The following is a brief description of the Australian rules for immigrants. I know how stringent they are, because I visited there and every one has to have a visa designated when you will leave.

"Australia is "as good as it gets" - and also notes that getting through the immigration system is "difficult but not impossible". Australian people are famous for their friendly and easygoing outlook on life. But anyone planning to come to Australia should understand that the Australian government is serious about "protecting the security of our borders and the integrity of our immigration system".

a) Australia has a Universal Visa system. All non-citizens (unless you are a New Zealander) must have a visa to enter Australia. All non-citizens in Australia must hold a valid visa or be liable to detention and removal as 'unlawful non-citizens'.

b) Australia's target migration intake is set yearly with a balance of different areas: skills, family, refugee/humanitarian. Of these areas, there is a strong policy emphasis on reducing family intake and boosting skills and business skills intakes.

c) Not everyone is eligible for an Australia visa. Visa matters are subject to the Migration Act and Regulations. The rules change frequently according to legislative amendments and Federal and High Court precedents.

d) Each visa subclass has its own conditions and criteria. If you apply in the wrong class, or you do not satisfy the decision-maker that you meet the conditions and criteria for the class you apply in, your application will be rejected without refund of the application fee."

Dr. Sowell, thank you, for all of the years of clarity that you have given us. I have yet to read a column of yours that did not make perfect sense. You've always been an excellent example of giving us well thought out writings.

William, I believe that Australia has a good example for the United States to observe and adapt to it's needs.

A harm that the USA has done to other countries is to have become a "brain drain." The talented, gifted persons that come here, leave their countries without the resources to improve their own lot. In this day and age, everyone should be able to live in their own country and be able benefit themselves, their families and countrymen with their skills and abilities.

There is no way that the USA can accept all of the citizens of other countries that wish to come here to be free. As Dr. Sowell has pointed out, people of a certain culture would be happy within their own group.

I do not see assimilation amongst those that come here to be free. I see flags of many other countries. Groups that want to convert their "little corner of America" into something that resembles their own country. I think it rude for groups of people, to speak their native language when they are out and about and either expect others to understand them or to have the USA have teachers to educate in their language or to have demands of the government that their employees be versed and to communicate in their native tongue.

I have learned Spanish and use that language when I have visited Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica and Spain.

I did not expect those countries to have people available to speak English.

Languages, customs and religions clash and make others leery of the others

We would do well to remember the history of the world and what has happened to the great civilizations of the past.

The problem is not now, and has never been, "Immigrants," neither in the US, nor in Europe. However, the idea of inviting in "guest workers," or issuing other forms of long-term working visas, by whatever name or program they are called, has caused problems everywhere it has been tried. The muslim community in Germany are not immigrants; they generally have no desire to become Germans in any sense beyond temporary residence and employment. Neither are the vast majority of illegal border crossers who enter the US from Mexico. They are, excepting the smugglers and drug dealers (who are simply criminals engaged in their trade), people who merely want to work, but who happen to live in places where work is unavailable. These people are not immigrants; they have no desire to become Americans (or Germans), but want to remain Turks, or Mexicans, or whatever their nationality was originally. Thus, they give no allegiance, either culturally or politically, to the country in which they are temporarily living and working, but still give allegiance to their own native lands. The european immigrants who flooded the USA in the last century, didn't plan to return home, and didn't think of themselves as ex-patriots, but as new Americans. I remember people in my old NYC neighborhood who would not speak their native tongue at home so their children would learn English better and would become more "American." It was an important element of identifying with their new homeland. That's why they came to this country, not just to find jobs. While they may have lived in small enclaves or neighborhoods of their fellows, they generally wanted to become Americans and did all they could so that they, and especially their children, could assimilate more easily. Those were IMMIGRANTS! Germany has stated that they have no problem with those who come there to become Germans, who learn the language, the culture, give their allegiance to Germany, etc. There is no problem retaining much of their original culture as well, indeed it enriches their new country, be it Germany or the USA. But a true immigrant is one who leaves his old country behind and becomes, and thenceforth thinks of himself as, a citizen of his new country only, who gives his full allegiance to the new homeland, though he may keep alive some cherished traditions from the old country. When the son of Italian immigrants invaded Italy with the US Army in WWII, even though he might be traveling thorugh his parent's hometown, there was no question in anyone's mind that he was an American. He knew it, and so did everyone else. There is no question of where the immigrant's new allegiance lies, for he has by definition, forsaken his old allegiances and become a new person, a citizen of his new country. In the USA it is much easier to do this than it is in most other countries, because we have a long tradition of giving a place in our society to the newcomers. But the problem of multi-culturism, as opposed to immigration, is just as valid and serious here as it is in europe, and we ultimately, we cannot withstand multi-culturism any better than Germany can.

Great article. Five star rating.

My dad came from Serbia,with him I spoke Serbian; my mom from Romania, with her I spoke Romanian I was

born in Detroit. I had four siblings with whom I spoke English. My neighborhood, at time consisted

of German, Polish, Italians, as well as other European ethnic origins. With my playmates, English was the only language spoken. However, when

visting my playmates homes, a few words of German, Polish, Italian, etc, were always exchanged with the parents. Various ethnic traditions were clebrated; but, on the 4th of July, all of those parents were proudly American. One thing was always

drilled into our young minds: You are so lucky, so

fortunate to have been born in this great, free country. My, Lord, how things have deteriorated.

Once again, Dr. Sowell is being brutally honest and forthright in his opinions concerning "guest workers" wanting to retain their culture and country while trying to shill Americans into believing otherwise. This free flow needs to be put on hold for 3-5 years until we can secure the borders and deport the illegals here now.