Is the Universal Melting Pot a quaint but outdated phrase that no longer describes United States immigration policy? The question popped to mind when a Portuguese acquaintance, let’s call her Anna, announced she was applying for citizenship.

Anna lives legally in the United States. She is an upstanding individual working and contributing to the economy for over fifteen years. As a single mom she raised two children. Her son is ready to graduate high school, and a daughter is now a social worker having earned two Master of Science degrees. Anna is close to many other family members living and working in the community.

We are all thrilled for Anna. Yet, Anna is scared. She is afraid that she will be denied American citizenship because of a backlash she is hearing. Protection, cartoons, editorials all are building to erode her confidence.

Afraid but undaunted, Anna enrolled in a course of study to prepare for her citizenship test. Many of her classmates are repeaters who initially failed the test for citizenship. Those classmates speak of discrimination, unwritten quotas and desperation.

So unnerved is Anna that she took three days off from work to immerse herself in preparation for the written and oral test.

Many things in life worth having require planning, perseverance, work, diligence, study, assessment and a lack of certainty: owning a car, acquiring an education, marrying, raising children, operating a business and so forth. Becoming an American citizen surely must carry as much gravity, responsibility and seriousness. If an assessment doesn’t test the mettle of an applicant would it not then diminish or trivialize citizenship?

Is the universal melting pot in danger of boiling over? Is the United States unable to extend life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to its citizens and would be citizens? Voters, grass roots movements, politicians and time will tell.

Anna is committed to becoming an American citizen. She’ll learn her fate tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted. ~ Bill Gow