The idea that newcomers are aiming to change the United States is paranoia, though, no different than when people feared the same of Catholics and Jews migrating to the US in past ages. That paranoia is fed by propaganda machines like Fox and Breitbart, who continually exaggerate the risks that immigrants and refugees pose, lacking any kind of reasonable perspective.

In reality, the US has strong institutional structures that make it quite resilient to the kind of change that people fear. There is really no risk, for instance, of Muslims breaking down the separation of church and state that effectively prevent most of what people seem to be afraid of. On the other hand, the risk posed to US government institutions is much greater when you consider those that claim to be defending them -- which is why it is very alarming when the US president employs rhetoric that challenges the independence of the judiciary.