by Jacob G. Hornberger

July 1, 2026

Among the silliest arguments employed by proponents of America’s socialist (i.e., central planning) system of immigration controls — and the deadly and ruthless immigration police state that comes with it — is the assimilation argument. Immigration statists say that under a free-market immigration system — that is, one based on open borders — there is a risk that immigrants won’t “assimilate” into the general population. Therefore, immigration statists argue, it is necessary that the federal government be in charge of the movements of people into the United States so that it will accept only those who will be likely to “assimilate.”

Really?

For one thing, what does “assimilate” mean? Does it mean that immigrants will speak only English? Does it mean that they will cheer only for American sports teams? Does it mean that they will marry American citizens? Does it mean that their children will not be taught their native language and native culture? Does it mean that they will dress like Americans? Does it mean that immigrants will mingle with U.S. citizens rather than with others from their native country?

For another thing, why is it so necessary for immigrants to assimilate? Does it mean that they will become better people? More moral? More religious? More ethical? More supportive of the U.S. national-security state’s policy of forever war?

Consider the Amish. It seems to me that they still haven’t done a very good job of assimilating. They ride around in horse-drawn buggies and refrain from driving cars like everyone else does. They dress differently as well. By and large, it seems like they marry other Amish. They seem to hang out mostly among themselves.

Does this mean that the Amish should be deported or exiled to some foreign land for not being genuine Americans? Does it mean that federal laws should be enacted that force them to finally assimilate?

My opinion? I don’t care one whit that the Amish haven’t assimilated. Why should I care? They are living their lives the way they want. They are pursuing happiness in their own way. If they don’t want to assimilate, why is that something that should bother me? It doesn’t. I couldn’t care less.

I have known Orthodox Jews here in the United States who are absolutely opposed to their children marrying non-Jewish Americans. I had a Jewish friend in high school whose parents threatened to disown him if he followed through with marrying the Gentile woman with whom he was in love.

That doesn’t sound very assimilative to me. Should I care? I don’t care a bit. I figure it’s none of my business.

Catholics won’t permit non-Catholic Americans to take Communion during Catholic Mass. It seems to me that that’s not the best way to assimilate here in America. Should the federal government enact laws forcing Catholics to let everyone take Communion? Not as far as I’m concerned.

What about immigrants, both U.S. citizens and foreigners, here in the United States who are currently cheering for their home countries in the World Cup competition? Isn’t that evidence that they haven’t assimilated? Shouldn’t they be cheering only for the U.S. soccer team? Should they be punished for doing that? Maybe deported or exiled?

Well, let’s consider the more than a million Americans who have retired in Mexico. Many of them continue to cheer for American sports teams. Many of them eat hamburgers instead of enchiladas. Many of them don’t learn Spanish and stick with other American expats rather than hang out with Mexicans. They keep their money in American financial institutions.

In other words, those Americans are not assimilating in Mexico. Should they be condemned? Not as far as I’m concerned. Why should I care whether American citizens who have chosen to live in Mexico aren’t assimilating? It’s none of my business. The way I figure it is that they are simply doing what immigrants here in the United States do. They are pursuing happiness in their own way.

One of the most fascinating assimilation issues involves the U.S. theft of the northern half of Mexico as part of the Mexican War. Mexico, needless to say, had a completely different culture, heritage, and history than the United States. Its language was Spanish. It had been a part of the Spanish Empire for centuries. Its inhabitants were Mexicans, most of whom could not speak English.

Nonetheless, the U.S. government willingly absorbed the entire northern half of this foreign country. At the same time, around 100,000 Mexican citizens were automatically converted into American citizens without having to answer those silly questions that are posed to prospective citizens today. That theft presented a huge assimilation problem that is still not resolved to this day. Along the border, for example, many American citizens still speak only Spanish. Many American officials persist in using the Spanish name for their cities, such as Los Angeles, El Paso, San Diego, and San Antonio. Many streets in the border states are still named after Mexican and Spanish figures and heroes. Obviously, any assimilation issues didn’t stop U.S. officials from initiating a war with the aim of stealing the northern half of Mexico.

I say: Let’s celebrate the principles of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, including the fact that the pursuit of happiness is a natural, God-given right that adheres to all people in the world. Let’s leave people free to pursue happiness, each in his own way, and reject fully and completely assimilation nonsense.