Sadly, people have a very difficult time separating the concepts of legal immigration from illegal immigration. Over and over again they cite the tremendous achievements of legal immigrants, which is something both Republicans and Democrats support and somehow suggest a direct equivalent experience with illegal immigrants. The experiences are not similar at all for a host of reasons.

At present, there are about 150 million people that have expressed an interest in immigrating to our country. Should all 150 million be allowed to immigrate at once? How would they be housed in a country already trying to address an increase in homelessness among its own citizens? Where would they find jobs? What impact would they have on our school systems? Are you really suggesting that all 150 million be allowed to immigrate all at once...

or...

Should we have an immigration system designed to absorb immigrants as our economy grows and has need of their talents? If the latter, then how should we handle those that cut the line... and what message does that send to the 150 million?

https://news.gallup.com/poll/153992/150-Million-Adults-Worldwide-Migrate.aspx

Now let's talk about racism. The vast majority of legal immigrants that enter this country are people of color. Nothing wrong with that at all. Nothing right about it either. As long as the system does not discriminate, then it should not matter what color immigrants are... based on the statistics, it seems pretty fair. Now our legal immigration statistics are a far better measure of any intentional racism, than the statistics of who just happens to show up at the border and tries to gain entry illegally. One reflects are values... the other is an event our country has no control over.

I do agree with you that one thing that makes American special is everyone can become an American. One of the most destructive things progressive liberals have done is to use identity politics as a political tool to gain power. Rather than stress the merging of people from all over the world into what we call "an American", the progressive liberals are setting groups against one another and using that to propel themselves to power. Division is their strategy...

My grandmother was an immigrant, My mother was an immigrant. My wife is an immigrant. My daughter in law is an immigrant. All of them came from a different part of the globe than one another... so yes we are a nation of immigrants... but everyone of them would tell you we need to manage our immigration...

Immigration is like rain. A good amount makes everything "greener" and "better" but to much brings flooding and destruction. We all love rain... but that does not translate into flooding being good.