The U.S. Was Built on LEGAL Immigration

I'm tired of the hackneyed argument that cracking down on illegal immigration is hypocritical and un-American because the U.S. was "built on immigration".

Our country was built on LEGAL immigration, not illegal immigration. Why can't people understand the difference?

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, when immigration was at its peak, immigrants who came to our country had to sink or swim. They had to work or starve. They didn't place a burden on our society because there was no government "safety net" of welfare, food stamps and free health care.

Compare that to today. Illegal immigrants are eligible for welfare, food stamps and free education. Who pays for all of this?

You and me.

I'm sure most illegal immigrants are nice, hard-working people. But they are still criminals. When they come into our country, the first thing they do is willingly break the law.

And how do we know we're only letting in nice, hard-working people? We don't because we don't control our borders.

Most Americans choose and control who they let into their houses. We don't leave the doors unlocked and open so anybody can come in, eat our food, sit on our couch and watch our TV. Yet somehow, many Americans are OK to leave our country's doors unlocked and open so illegal immigrants can come in and partake of our welfare, food stamps and free schooling.

Are Americans so blind and illogical that they can't see the analogy?

I'm afraid the answer is probably "Yes".