"It is the purpose of the majority of the Immigration Committee to encourage assimilation, yet this bill has already done more than anything I know of to bring about discord among our resident aliens"
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Emanuel Celler’s statement draws attention to the contradiction between the intended purpose and the actual effect of an immigration bill under debate. The majority on the Immigration Committee claim their goal is to promote assimilation, that is, to help newcomers integrate harmoniously and become part of the broader American community. Assimilation typically involves adapting to social norms, adopting the English language, understanding civic responsibilities, and embracing shared national values. It is believed to foster national unity and minimize tensions between immigrants and native-born citizens.
However, Celler observes that the proposed legislation, rather than fostering this unity or smoothing the process of assimilation, has had the opposite effect. The bill has generated discord, conflict, division, and resentment, among resident aliens, a term referring to legally established immigrants who have not yet acquired citizenship. Instead of drawing these immigrants into the national fold, the bill has alienated them, making them feel marginalized or unwelcome.
This disconnect between purpose and consequence is central to Celler’s critique. Laws framed around “assimilation” sometimes impose rigid expectations or restrictive quotas, sending a message to new arrivals that their backgrounds are undesirable or unworthy of equal acceptance. Such measures can stoke fears, fuel prejudice, or strengthen divisions within society. The bill, according to Celler, exemplifies how policies crafted in the name of the public good can inadvertently undermine social cohesion by sowing seeds of suspicion and exclusion.
Celler’s argument highlights the importance of critically examining policy outcomes rather than accepting their stated intentions at face value. True assimilation, he suggests, cannot be legislated through exclusionary measures; it is cultivated through acceptance, mutual respect, and opportunities for meaningful participation in civic life. When laws disregard the dignity or humanity of a portion of the population, they risk undermining the very integration and harmony they claim to promote.
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