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Victor Davis Hanson bluntly told American Agenda viewers that too many of today’s arrivals show little appreciation for the civic habits and institutions that built this country, and he argued it’s time to shrink legal immigration to manageable levels. His warning is a call for common-sense pause, not a betrayal of America’s generous tradition of welcome, because a nation that cannot assimilate newcomers will lose its character.
Hanson reminded listeners that assimilation is not optional; newcomers must learn our language, history, and burly civic customs if they are to participate in the American project rather than supplant it. Observers across his columns and speeches have repeatedly pointed out that the problem isn’t the people so much as the current system’s failure to insist on integration and shared allegiance.
Conservatives should welcome legal immigration that strengthens our economy, but we must insist on limits and vetting that protect our culture and national security, a stance now echoed in Republican policymaking debates. In recent weeks the topic has moved from academic argument to policy action, with national leaders sharpening focus on legal immigration and asylum rules amid security concerns.
Practical steps Hanson and other sober conservatives recommend include ending catch-and-release, pausing expansive asylum approvals until the system is reformed, and radically improving vetting to keep out bad actors while admitting immigrants who commit to American norms. These are not radical proposals but restoration of the common-sense immigration practices that allowed past generations to assimilate successfully.
Patriots who care about the future of our towns, schools, and workplaces should not be shamed for demanding policies that favor assimilation over chaos, English proficiency over factional enclaves, and legal pathways that reward contribution rather than dependency. If Washington refuses to act, ordinary Americans will suffer the consequences in wages, social cohesion, and public safety, and that is unacceptable.
Lawmakers would do well to heed Hanson and fellow conservatives: cut legal immigration to levels that allow assimilation, enforce the rule of law at the border, and make American values the price of admission. We can be compassionate without being naïve, welcoming without weakening our nation, and it is time for leaders to choose the America we want to preserve for our children.
