Americans once backed immigration reform. But lately, the nation seems more frightened than welcoming.<\/p>\n
The overwhelming flood of incoming immigrants does create concerns about how the expanded population may strain the existing infrastructure. It affects job availability on some levels, health care, social services and the economy. It may affect the nation in both good and bad ways.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, political scientists say there is a greater fear at the heart of the immigration debate these days \u2013 a thought dubbed the acculturation threat hypothesis. (To read one University of Connecticut assistant professor’s analysis, click here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Even in the early days, when European settlers were making homes on U.S. soil, families were Dutch, German, Irish, Spanish, Eastern European and more. Their diversity was their strength in building the nation. That cultural diversity is still a benefit, but now more American-born voters feel they are becoming a minority in their own land, overwhelmed by a (more…)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Americans once backed immigration reform. But lately, the nation seems more frightened than welcoming. The overwhelming flood of incoming immigrants does create concerns about how the expanded population may strain the existing infrastructure. It affects job availability on some levels,…<\/span><\/p>\n