1. The immigration system was incredibly porous prior to WWII. The notion that everyone who came to this contry had to go through Ellis Island is laughable. You've been watching too many movies. 2. So, only illegal immigrants from Mexico are contributing to "the current problem"? 3. You said that talking about illegal immigrant rights was the same thing as talking about terrorist rights. By saying this, you were equating illegal immigrants with terrorists. Aside from being a logically insipid argument, it's also morally reprehensible. 4. You want my solution? First, you have to toughen up border security on both borders. It's a national security issue. We need more Border Patrol guards, and better technology. Second, you have figure out what to do with the people who are here. Deporting or imprisoning them isn't an option. I favor a guest worker program, which would put illegal immigrants on the path to citizenship. They would have to pay back taxes and a fine, get in line behind those coming here legally, be here for a minimum of seven years, and have a clean record. 5. My point wasn't that it would cost a lot to round up everyone and deport them. My point was that it's not going to happen. We don't have the people, the money, or the political will to do it. It's not going to happen, so we might as well find a sensible solution. 6. Everyone wants to keep our country safe. The question is the best way to do it. Do you really think a wall is going to do much to stop a suicidal maniac who wants to destroy our country? For Heaven's sake, it's the 21st century, and we'd better start thinking like it. This is an assymetrical conflict, and our technology is one area in which the assymetry falls on our side. We can use our technological dominance and innovation to protect our borders without sinking billions of dollars into a wall that won't work. Public policy is about doing the best you can with what you have, and we're not in a position to waste money on costly projects that would take years to complete.