US Citizenship: Laid back folks need not apply

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The Great Filter

 I just began writing an introductory book on immigration law, with Gianelli Henley, immigration attorney in Jacksonville, Florida.  A few things struck me as I started my research:

 First, naturalization is an arduous process.  It is easier to thread a sewing machine while it is running than to become a naturalized citizen.  If you are Joe Wanna-be-a-citizen, you start with dozens of forms, any one of which could be rejected and need to be resubmitted.  Next, you jump through lots of hoops: Can you prove you have cash for at least six months' of living expense? Can you prove you are marrying a US citizen for love and not just to be naturalized?  If Joe wants to marry Sally, a US citizen, then they need to make sure all their stories line up for the interview.  Immigration services are looking for any hint that the marriage is a sham.  Ever been arrested?  Ever had financial problems in the home country?  Ever overstay, even for a day, a visitor's visa?  The list goes on and on.  

Apply these filters to millions of people over decades of time.  What shakes out? Success.    According to Forbes magazine, since 2000 35 of 85 American Nobel prize winners have been immigrants(1).  Inc Magazine reports that from 1990 to 2010, small businesses grew from 3.1 to 4.9 million.  Immigrant owned businesses were responsible for 30% of that growth (2).   

 So what does this mean in the long run?  Some pretty cool stuff :
  • This century, just like the last one, is the American century.
  • We will continue to massively innovate, across all domains of business, science, and culture.
  • Whatever mistakes we make--and all nations make them--will be mitigated by a multitude of people with differing perspectives and ideas.  We are not a uniform society, and we will not go lockstep in the same direction, good or bad.
  • No other nation can lead as we do.  In spite of our mistakes, other nations trust us. As a polyglot civilization, we are not inherently biased against any particular political or ethnic group.   We have "one of each," from Zoroastrians to Muslims to Pentecostals.  
My fellow baby boomers and younger readers--cheer up.  Put up your flag this July 4 and smile knowing that your country continues to be the world's beacon of freedom, and tolerance, and the greatest engine of creativity so far in human history.   



(1) https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2017/10/08/immigrants-keep-winning-nobel-prizes/#74bddc0d117b
(2) https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/immigrants-play-an-outsize-role-in-small-business.html

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