[elevader]

I can only really talk about Germany here, the perspective might be different in other countries. The big challenge is the large number of people coming in, both from legal and illegal immigration. Our system simply can't deal with it. Ideally you would get these people out of the asylum centers (might be the wrong term, no idea) and into jobs so they can actually start living and integrating here. But the harsh reality is that people are stuck for years, waiting for the approval process to happen at some point, and they aren't even allowed to do something useful in the meantime. This, unsurprisingly, creates a lot of tension on all sides and doesn't help anybody. Lowering the numbers might not be the best solution but at least that seems doable.

[trueismywork]

I feel a lot of this comes from a big resistance to change. Germany tries to take in all immigrants and make them fully German without any trace of their original culture (not socially, but economics wise etc). And that creates huge tension. In my mind, Germany needs to decide which of those various aspects of culture are important and then focus on them, and allow for diversity in other parts.

[mytailorisrich]

But why should they change? Ultimately immigrants need to assimilate. Maybe not the first generation but the second generation should be assimilated.

People always talk about integration but that's easy. Assimilation is the harder goal.

This highlights the key, difficult issue with immigration into Europe: people from vastly different cultures and religion who don't assimilate even in some cases at the third generation. But it's very difficult to openly discuss this because anyone who dares say, for example, "there are too many muslim immigrants" is immediately piloried and so the debate is poisoned.

[trueismywork]

There are different levels of assimilation:

1. Gender equality : probably very high on list of desirable qualities in assimilation

2. Language : may be somewhere in middle

3. Being required to Celebrate Christmas in kindergarten : even lower I say and may be counterproductive

Not all sides of assimilation are same. With Germany, it seems like it's all or nothing though. The debate is poisoned because no one is listening to the other side. One side says, "why should we change?" And other side say, "well, why should we?" And nothing goes anywhere.

[mytailorisrich]

No, there are no "different levels of assimilation", by definition.

Language is a basic requirement for integration, by the way, way before assimilation.

I think your last sentence misses the point that there is no obligation to accept immigrants and that the host country is sovereignly free to accept or reject anyone they wish.

[trueismywork]

Thats what OP was saying though, if countries want assimilation to that high of a degree, they should encode it in a law. Otherwise, they are being duplicitous by inviting skilled workers on one hand and then creating structures which drive them away.

For example, there can be a legal requirement to have a B2 level of German within 3 years of being in country, if the requirement is so important.

Right now, the policies say one thing and politics say another.

P.S. : the real reason such a law would never exist is because it would drive a huge amount of skilled immigration away and this is something also politicians cannot afford.