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massive human injustice and violations of civil liberties. Still, unlike past periods of intense
debate over immigration, the current controversy has not triggered widespread nativism or
racism (although there have been localized incidents). And while failure to gain control
over America’s borders could obviously weaken public support for continuing substantial
legal immigration, it is noteworthy that the main thrust of the restrictionist argument has
been directed at illegal aliens and not at the basic U.S. policy of welcoming robust, legal
inflows in a nondiscriminatory manner. The leading proposals for coping with existing
undocumented immigrants have focused on ways to guide them toward legal status and
citizenship. The events of 9/11 have reinforced the conviction that a principal objective of
immigration policy should be the assimilation of new residents into the social and
economic mainstream. Thus there has been a renewed emphasis on all immigrants learning
the English language, moving toward citizenship, and integrating into the American
workplace.
The treatment of immigrant Muslims and Arabs has been a concern in the post-9/11
period. In the months following the attacks, hate crimes against Muslims, which had been
at a relatively low level, increased substantially. In a blatant violation of civil rights, the
federal government rounded up and imprisoned some 1,200 Muslim men. Those detained
were, with few exceptions, never charged with a crime and were often deprived of access
to legal counsel. Many had overstayed their visas and were eventually sent back to their
countries of origin. Other Muslims who were in the United States legally as immigrants or
students were subjected to heightened scrutiny, and occasionally investigation, by the
federal government.
While many Muslims complained that they were victims of unwarranted suspicion and or
outright discrimination, the overall impact on their status in the United States was limited.
Almost immediately after the attacks, the leaders of Muslim and Arab American
organizations were consulted by senior federal officials and were often asked to appear at
forums sponsored by Republicans and Democrats, public policy organizations, and
interfaith groups. Within two years, the number of hate crimes against Muslims declined
significantly. A survey published by the Pew Research Center in May 2007 found that the
vast majority of Muslims in America are “pretty happy” or “very happy.” The findings
suggested widespread contentment with their economic status and indicated considerable
intermingling with other groups. As Muslim and Arab immigrants continue to seek
admission to the United States, established residents from both groups have increased
their participation in the American political process since 9/11. Significantly, the Pew study
found important differences between Muslim immigrants, who seemed to feel that they had
in important ways attained the American dream, and U.S.-born Muslims, who were far less
satisfied with their situation. This latter group primarily consists of African Americans, and
their views thus reinforce this study’s conclusion that reducing the black-white divide
remains America’s most formidable long-term challenge.
Equality of Opportunity Amid Economic Globalization

Among major liberal democracies, no country has been more aggressive in embracing the
global economy than the United States. America’s policies have had tangible benefits: the
country is well positioned for global economic competition, has enjoyed several decades of
low inflation, and has maintained a rate of unemployment that is low by the standards of
the developed free-market world.

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