It is often claimed that illegal immigrants do not learn English or assimilate into the American culture. Certainly, many first-generation immigrants do not speak English and do not bother to learn the language. Many live and work in tight-knit communities with fellow immigrants, where they can speak a familiar language and practice their native customs.
So? Whose rights do they violate? The failure to speak English violates nobody’s rights. The failure to speak English only harms those who do not speak it—their choices and job opportunities are limited. But this has been the trend throughout American history. First-generation immigrants have often settled into Chinatown, or Little Italy, or some similar ethnic community. But with few exceptions, their children assimilate: they learn English, attend college, and become skilled tradesmen and professionals.
The Vietnamese are a typical example. When Vietnamese first immigrated in large numbers after the Vietnam War, most immigrants did not speak English. They settled into Little Saigons where they retained their culture and language. However, in general their children became well-educated and entered professions such as science, medicine, and engineering. Immigrants come to America to make a better life for themselves and their families, and that is precisely what occurs. And they are successful in doing so to the extent that they embrace American culture.
“A nation’s culture,” writes Ayn Rand, “is the sum of the intellectual achievements of individual men, which their fellow-citizens have accepted in whole or in part, and which have influenced the nation’s way of life.” What is America’s culture?
Historically, America’s culture has been shaped by the principle of individual rights—the freedom of each individual to live his life in the pursuit of his own personal happiness. Individual freedom—the recognition and protection of individual rights—is what attracts immigrants. Of course, individual rights have been under attack, but that attack has *not* been led by immigrants. That attack has been led by America’s intellectuals and politicians. The solution is not further violations of individual rights—limits on immigration and freedom of association—but a principled defense of individual rights for all individuals, including immigrants.