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There is no way to stop immigration. As long as there is a demand for the jobs and amenities of life in the U.S. people will come. So the question is not about putting an end to immigration but rather how we deal with it. Those that come here without going through the proper channels are rightly called illegal immigrants because they are here illegally.
However, these immigrants do provide very important services for the economy, and it is a fact that they do jobs that many citizens would refuse to do. Reducing barriers to trade and freeing up markets is what boosts economies around the world and battles poverty. The trade of labor should also be freed up so that if the jobs in the U.S. are better than the jobs in Latin America (which it seems that they are since millions of people flock to the U.S.) the people that want those jobs can get them.
BUT... they need to do so legally. Temporary worker programs allow workers to come from outside the U.S. and work for a specified amount of time, but after that period the workers are supposed to return to their home countries. Many of these workers establish lives in the U.S. that makes it very difficult for them to just up and leave. So should we just let them stay? Not necessarily. But should we make some provisions as to allow them the opportunity to apply for citizenship if they do wish to stay? I think so.
A temporary worker program that has a stipulation that allows for the workers to remain in the U.S. for a given number of years (I think one number being thrown around is 6 years) would allow these workers to apply for citizenship. Then they would be entitled to all the benefits of being a citizen of the U.S.. I think Rob Instigator said that these people pay taxes... well they do pay sales taxes but they certainly don't pay income taxes. I don't really understand the people that argue that illegal immigrants should receive all the same benefits of citizens. It's not that difficult to become a citizen, although it does take time.
No politicans will propose measures that will actually address the immigration issue and get to the source of the problem. Instead of trying to go after each and every one of these immigrants (and spending a shitload of tax money to do it) there should be strict enforcement of the rules for companies. However, this is not a problem of "perpetuating power over the working class" or any of that Marxist nonsense. It is just very practical. If it is harder for companies to employ illegal immigrants the number of jobs available to illegal (or undocumented) workers will decrease. Note this doesn't actually decrease the number of jobs, just that these jobs must be filled by legal workers. Since the people do want to come to the U.S., this will create an incentive for them to do so through legal means and apply for citizenship.
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