Steven A. Camarota

Many Middle Eastern immigrants are highly educated U.S. citizens who wish to assimilate and adopt American values, Steven A. Camarota explains in the following viewpoint. Currently, however, the majority of Middle Eastern immigrants in the United States are Muslims. Some Muslims resist cultural adaptation by refusing to identify with secular American culture—which could result in political and religious conflicts, Camarota maintains. Moreover, Islamic extremists could readily blend in with a large population of Middle Eastern immigrants, making it easier for them to engage in terrorism on American soil. The author concludes that the overall immigration level should be reduced to protect national security. Camarota is director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.

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1. About how many Middle Eastern immigrants are in...