A clarification of America's historic role concerning immigration: most if not ALL immigration came from Europe, of the Christian religion ( and its various sects and heresies ) when that was considered a universal - and excluding the ME. Also during most of that era "nation states" as such played only marginal importance. Most of Europe was under aristocratic governance ( royal ) and nationality was a quite flexible concept. One might argue that not until post WW1 did nationality begin to play an identity role. Unfortunately today the term nationality covers a lot of sins - such as that of the ME "nations" defined by the post colonial era horse trading devoid of respect for tribal and religious communities.

We came to Canada on an immigrant ship - assuredly not a single passenger was from the ME or Africa at the time. 

How times have changed  .-)