Final answer:
The debate on whether U.S. borders should be closed to immigrants involves cultural, economic, and policy dimensions, influenced by high immigration levels and contentious policies. The complexity of integration approaches and economic impacts make it a multifaceted issue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether U.S. borders should be closed to immigrants is complex and multifaceted, touching on cultural, economic, and policy considerations. Immigration has been a significant part of U.S. history, with trends showing that immigration levels have been high in recent years when compared to the towering levels of the early twentieth century. The concerns often arise from the potential impact on a country's culture and the economy, where economists may offer insights on the latter. Different views on immigration can also be influenced by current U.S. policies, which have varied from advocating for more stringent measures like building a wall to addressing humanitarian crises, such as the Syrian refugee situation.
Views on immigration policies can be categorized into approaches of pluralism, assimilation, or amalgamation. These perspectives reflect different ideologies on how immigrants should integrate with or contribute to society. Current U.S. immigration policies have been subject to debate, with measures involving the incarceration of undocumented children and family separations at the border highlighting aspects of enforcement that are controversial and have been criticized for not aligning with a clear approach to integration. Lastly, the problem is also economic. Immigration, especially by low-skilled workers, can affect American low-skilled workers in different ways, influencing wages, income levels, as well as government taxes and spending.