The immigration policies and patterns of the United States and
France lend themselves readily to comparison, because both
countries have welcomed immigrants, actively promoted their
assimilation, and tended to define society in terms of shared
values rather than descent. Today, integration policies in both
countries are challenged by the mass influx of immigrants — the
Mexicans in the USA and the Maghrebis in France — who, by color,
culture, or religion, distinguish themselves more from the majority
than did earlier waves of immigrants.
There is a major difference among the immigrant population in
the two countries.In France, they are the estimated three million
Muslims who are essentially segregated in isolated conclaves and
discouraged by unions and a caste system to assimilate into the
culture.
In America, Hispanics represent about 28% of the 300 million
population with only the poorest living in barrios while first
generation off spring tend to merge into the white culture without
overwhelming prejudice.
The difference is most Muslims moved to France legally from
former French colonies after the arrival of Turks, Italians,
Spaniards and eastern Europeans who were brought in after World War
II to rebuild the nation. An estimated 10 million Hispanics now
reside in the U.S. illegally looking for jobs Americans didn’t want
until last year’s recession.
France’s immigration policy was by design. America’s by
neglect.The United States and France differ greatly in their
responses to mass immigration. The U.S. adapts is own culture and
that of the immigrants, most recently with Latinos. France wants
the immigrants to do it all. As a result, the Muslim North Africans
of France's first wave of mass immigration are not assimilating
well.
The U.S. seems on its best course, but France needs policy
changes to at least keep the peace.