event horizon wrote:Because the UK does not have the history of immigration that the US does, I think the British people should be able to decide who they want coming into their country.
Since the British did give open immigration and multiculturalism a chance, I think enough time has passed for them to decide to continue on this route or change course and follow a sensible policy where immigration is restricted, not all countries, and therefore immigrants, are 'equal', and immigrants are expected to play their own role in joining British society, rather than have Britain and British citizens bend over backwards for them.
I can't and won't speak for the UK, but since your brought up the US I will have a say.
What you see below is the oath that everyone takes upon given citizenship.
I hereby declare, on oath,
•that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen;
•that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
•that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same;
•that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by law;
•that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law;
•that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law;
•and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.
In acknowledgement whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.Then they stand on the ground of the very country that has welcomed them and declare their own war against the US, denounce the US, demonstrate against the US, all for the country that they left and think the US should make things better - so that they can go "home" to a better life.
Many do jobs where it is a cash=flow business, where they claim the least amount possible on their income tax returns, if they file any.
The don't volunteer for military service.
They qualify for every subsidiary that the government created for them - not American-born citizens.
They send money "home". Home is the US, not where they came from.
The US lets them retain the passports of the country they came from, giving them dual citizenship.
Then there are the 20 million illegal immigrants, who by virtue of being illegal should not have "rights", but the US gives them rights. First thing on the agenda: have a baby. Baby is a US citizen. US lets illegal parents live in the US because the baby is a citizen. Baby receives government benefits from the day it is born. There was talk about having illegals decide to leave their child(ren) behind and return to their country, or take their child(ren) with them and leave. The immigrants didn't like that option and those that proposed were seen as being bad people for even suggesting a choice.
Let's not forget those that are inbetween who hold "Permanent Residency Cards", once known as the "Green Card". 50,000 PRCs are issued every year for people - around the world - who were the lucky winners in the US green card lottery. This is issued for 10 years and they don't have to be in the US to get it, they just need to send in an application, which is selected randomly. And here's the bonus: the winner gets to bring their families to the US to live, work (sure they do) and study in the US. How easy is that???
Every so often, because of the the government having lost control of the illegal immigration problem, they give away citizenship. Yup, live in the US illegally, don't pay taxes, abuse the medical system - because you can - and wait until the the US announces the "Big Giveaway". What they are giving away is the United States!!!