And, the allergy to the use of referent words continues.
Those that turn a blind eye to the problems caused by illegal immigration are just as harmful as those who want to build a huge wall and keep out all of the wetbacks. Mikey's post, earlier, may have been a compilation of many different cites, but for the most part it was correct. Crime, gangs, abuse of social services, anchor babies, etc. are all a drain on the quality of life in the USA. There needs to be some reform. That reform won't get done as long as the the two sides of the debate are so extreme.
The current system costs lives, whether it be those who die in the desert heat or those who are victims of violent crime committed a small percentage of illegals. A country has the right and the duty to know who is currently residing within its borders. Those who live in the US without documentation are subject to abuse. In reality, they don't even exist, officially.
Ignoring the problems caused by illegal entry into the US, and making excuses for the minority of the real criminals (by claiming that they are only a small minority) entering the country illegally, the abuses will continue. You don't help hardworking illegals, who want a piece of the American dream, by tacitly supporting the status quo. The majority of people who have problems with illegal immigration are not racists. They are people who have real concerns about their quality of life. To suggest otherwise, is disingenuous and does nothing to solve the problems experienced by the illegals or citizens.
There are those, too, who use the illegals as pawns. Some see them as a voting block that can bring their party to power. Automatic citizenship! Others see them as a voting block that will keep them out of power. Send em home! The answer is not complete amnesty nor mass deportation. It is to find out who they are, check them out, let them stay if they are contributing, and put them on the same waiting list as those who are trying to do it the legal way. Also, cut the cost of becoming a citizen to an amount that is reasonable.