After the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. by an Afghan migrant, the Trump administration halted visas for Afghans and suspended immigration from “Third World Countries.” While some deem this an overreaction, others argue the move was long overdue. But what is clear — from both the D.C. shooting and other incidents, such as the widespread welfare fraud by Somalis in Minnesota that has recently made national news — is that the United States is beginning to experience the same issues with Middle Eastern migration and integration that Europe has dealt with for some time now. When immigration comes under scrutiny at moments like this, advocates will often cite the successful assimilation of past groups of immigrants — such as the Irish and Italians — as evidence that immigration almost always works out well. Yet, thanks to the advent of new technology, contemporary efforts to assimilate large groups of migrants might face insurmountable challenges.
The sheer popularity of apps that can keep migrants in constant touch with family members abroad can’t be overlooked in examining why some migrants are slow to embrace their newly adopted countries.
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