I believe the question by itself cannot be answered because immigration policy, welfare policy, and public safety are all intricately linked.
For example, I think people would be much more open to free immigration if they weren't receiving welfare benefits and if local law enforcement was sufficient to prevent any increased risk of crime.
On the other hand, when taxpayer funded welfare benefits are going to these immigrants who haven't paid into the system and when and if immigration contributes to crime, then people will want a tightened immigration policy.
But to me, I think the average westerner devalues their own culture too much. I speak as someone of Asian descent and thus having no historical ties to western culture: It would be really sad to me if Germany or France one day became a muslim-majority country. Not because I hate muslims, but because I think something of value would have been lost: a unique German or French cultural identity that had persisted for many thousands of years but now can no longer be seen.
Of course, cultures are always undergoing flux so this argument isn't definitive. Nevertheless, because I think the average westerner devalues their own culture too much, I would generally support more restrictive immigration policies in western countries. In that sense, while I don't know what the optimal immigration policy is, the first derivative points me towards more restrictions in western countries.
I'm from African descent, and first generation migrant in the west, and I so much agree with all the above.
Having grown in a very diverse country, I perfectly understand the pitfalls and problems associated with diversity. Arguably, almost all post-colonial African (political) issues can be linked to their ethnic diversity, and I see the same problems coming to the West as well.
reply
10 sats \ 3 replies \ @kr OP 31 Jan
i think you’re onto something here.
i’m canadian, and i would have a hard time identifying many of the things that makes canadian culture unique.
maybe this is a result of north america being settled so recently, and having so many converging cultures pour in at once.
a few generations from now, it might be easier to identify american or canadian culture at a glance.
reply
No, it's the result of you being so immersed in your own culture (I guess). I am sure if you go live somewhere else for a long period of time, it'll become more clearer to you what is distinctive about Canadian culture. (I've live in Canada for a while, and I can tell you that there are many things that make Canadian culture unique.) 🙂
reply
this could be a bias for me, i have lived in some pretty remote places in america but haven’t spent long periods of time on other continents
reply
Hockey night and don cherry
reply