The bottom line is that immigration of unskilled labor (whether it is legal or illegal) simply can't be sustained any more.
The unskilled come in and cannot support themselves so they become dependent on the system to take care of them. Once upon a time, that was Ok because the unskilled eventually became somewhat skilled and then got off the system. Not so any more, the unskilled become permanent burdens on the system, which is already going into the negative.
Immigration of skilled labor is the only thing that should be allowed, and it should only be allowed if skilled native workers cannot be found.
The difference is that since Johnson's Great Society the US has had a pretty comprehensive welfare state.
A fun fact that most people don't know is that 60% of European immigrants to the US LEFT! Because they couldn't make a living.
So it was possible to have open borders because only those that could make a living for themselves would stay.
Nowadays, hordes come to Western countries precisely BECAUSE they are unproductive and western welfare states are the best way for them to raise their quality of life.
You can have EITHER open borders OR a welfare state. Not both at the same time.
My personal inclination is for countries with a lot of space such as the US and Australia to have minimal welfare states while small over crowded countries such as the UK and other Western European countries should have closed borders.
Why not just make immigrants ineligible for the benefits of the welfare state until they have paid enough taxes into the system?
I had a stamp in my passport that said "no recourse to public funds" and I was fine with it. I didn't want public funds. I just want to be able to live in a decent country like Britain.
