The United States of America is, as John F. Kennedy called it, “a nation of immigrants.” Except for those of Native American ancestry, we all can trace our heritage back to somewhere else, whether our ancestors came on the Mayflower or a slave ship, into Ellis Island or Angel Island, into JFK Airport or across the Rio Grande. At its founding, America was, as our first president said, “open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions.” Though at various moments in our history we have not fully lived up to that standard, it remains core to our national identity. I’m inspired by my Dutch immigrant ancestors, and I see reflections of their courage in the immigrants arriving today.