In our streets and schools, pubs and offices, people from all round the world mix perfectly happily Yet when we contemplate immigrants rather than immigration – the people rather than the phenomenon – our attitude often changes.
In addition, I suspect that many of us subconsciously draw a distinction between "immigration" as a phenomenon and "immigrants" as people.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, was a driver behind comprehensive immigration reform that faltered in Congress but has since retreated from that position.
Since the premiership of John Howard in the 1990s – "We will decide who comes into this country" – opposition to illegal immigration and the detention of illegal immigrants are political no-brainers in Australia.
With immigrants as people, as distinct with immigration as a shorthand for a broad sense of happiness with today's Britain, familiarity usually breeds content, not contempt.
On Monday, the prime minister will make a keynote speech on immigration, expected to focus more on restricting access to public services for immigrants.
On immigration, the author writes that the prime minister "recommends internment camps for illegal immigrants and states they should be forced to work".
"The real effect of this speech will be to further increase the intolerance and the hostile reception that immigrants are facing from some sections of society".
Most immigrants contribute to society, most want to become good British citizens and most strike me as more like us with every rainy day that passes.
"Huma represents what is best about America – the daughter of immigrants, who has risen to the highest levels of our government on the basis of her substantial personal merit and her abiding commitment to the American ideals that she embodies so fully.
So next time you hear someone mouthing off about bloody immigrants, ask how many kids they have, how old they were when they had them and whether or not they expect those children to look after them when they get seriously old.
