Melting Pot or Civil War?
A Son of Immigrants Makes the Case Against Open Borders
Long before Covid-19 and the death of George Floyd rocked America, Reihan Salam predicted our current unrest--and provided a blueprint for reuniting the country.
"Tthe years to come may see a new populist revolt, driven by the resentments of working-class Americans of color.”
For too long, liberals have suggested that only cruel, racist, or nativist bigots would want to restrict immigration. Anyone motivated by compassion and egalitarianism would choose open, or nearly-open, borders—or so the argument goes. Now, Reihan Salam, the son of Bangladeshi immigrants, turns this argument on its head.
In this deeply researched but also deeply personal book, Salam shows why uncontrolled immigration is bad for everyone, including people like his family. Our current system has intensified the isolation…
REIHAN SALAM is an associate editor at The Atlantic Monthly. He lives in Washington, D.C.