LOWER EAST SIDE, NEW YORK CITY -- This area dominated largely by immigrants for two centuries is a good place to think about America's growing immigration debate. This month, dominated by two welcoming but challenging presidents -- George Washington and Abraham Lincoln -- is a good time to do so...

But two differences stand out [between then and now]. One is that, in the past, leading institutions strove mightily to Americanize students...

Those who come to America to tear it down or live off of others should not be welcomed. Those who are "true and patriotic" should be. This means that we must toughen our tests for citizenship and not allow dual citizenship. It particularly means that our schools and libraries should do their part to communicate patriotism, rather than politically correct anti-Americanism, and that all children should learn to speak English, so that we do not end up with a bifurcated culture.

I mentioned that there are two differences from the semi-good old days, and here's the second: Then, almost all immigrants came by boat through fixed entry points, and now we have porous borders with immigrants coming by land illegally, some potentially threatening national security. Now, we are also stuck with a coalition of liberals who think immigrants can be their political salvation and corporate conservatives who see their economic usefulness...