American

It's sometimes worthwhile to explore what the original founders of America thought about various subjects. Immigration has been the hot topic the last few months, so what did George Washington, the country's first President say about immigration. In Washington's farewell address he said

For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of AMERICAN, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same Religion, Manners, Habits, and political Principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together. The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils, and joint efforts; of common dangers, sufferings and successes.

So Washington was a nationalists? What's wrong with that? A distinct American culture, as opposed to a multicultural hodge podge was deems to be better. Yes I think it is. It's not that people of other creeds are not welcome, it''s just that they must pick up the assimilation and become Americans. Yes, the burqa has to go, and also the Shiria law. You do not come to America to change America, bring your customs and expect those to be respected, you come to America to convert, to become American. If this bargain is not what you want, your choice is to stay where you are, there is no right to immigration, as much as the open borders crowd would like it to be.

... there is no need of encouragement: while the policy or advantage of [immigration] taking place in a body (I mean the settling of them in a body) may be much questioned; for, by so doing, they retain the Language, habits and principles (good or bad) which they bring with them. Whereas by an intermixture with our people, they, or their descendants, get assimilated to our customs, measures and laws: in a word, soon become one people.
- George Washington, in a letter to John Adams, November 15, 1794

It's obvious that by assimilating, becoming American, our country, our culture, our norms and our beliefs are to be preserved -- Not the norms of immigrants, those are to be discarded. That is the grand bargain for immigrants wishing to come to America, become Americans, one people.