In 1965, the United States made important changes in its immigration laws, allowing many more immigrants to come and entirely eliminating the older laws’ bias (偏见, 偏向) in favor of white European immigrants. As a result, the United States is now confronted with a new challenge—taking in large numbers of new immigrants who are nonwhite and non-European. About 90 percent are from Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In addition to the large numbers of legal immigrants, for the first time the United States has significant numbers of illegal immigrants. Many worry about what the impact will be on the American society. Can the American economy expand enough to offer these new immigrants the same opportunities that others have had What will be the effect on the traditional value system that has defined the United States for over 200 years
Many Americans see wonderful benefits for their country. Ben Wattenberg, a respected expert on American culture, believes that the "new immigration" will be of great help to the nation. According to Wattenberg, something very important is happening to the United States: It is becoming the first universal nation in history. Wattenberg believes that the United States will be the first nation where large numbers of people from every region on earth live in freedom under one government. This diversity, he says, will give the nation great influence and appeal to the rest of the world during the 21st century.
Perhaps the United States will be described not as a "melting pot" or a "salad bowl" but as a "mosaic"—a picture made up of many tiny pieces of different colors. If one looks closely at the nation, the individuals of different colors and ethnic groups are still distinct and recognizable, but together they create a picture that is uniquely American. "E Pluribus Unum" —the motto of the United States from its beginning—means one composed of many. "Out of many, one. \
The older immigration laws ().
A. didn’t allow Africans to immigrate into America
B. had a prejudice against Asian immigrants
C. only accepts white European immigrants
D. had attracted many illegal immigrants