People who are not citizens don't get to vote. That is why we need voter ID laws.
The immigration question is a problem to be solved, not an issue to be exploited for political purposes. Both parties seem to want to use it; they shouldn't. We need to resolve the issue, not use it.
We cannot deny citizenship to the children born here of illegal immigrants. That would leave us with a whole sub class of stateless persons. They need to carry some sort of citizenship; it should be USA.
Those born abroad and brought here as children find themselves in another pickle. They lack the social skills, language and documents to function in the country from which they came. It would be immoral to deport them to a society where they could not function. We need to do better than that.
The social welfare system in the US is far superior to that of many other countries. This acts as a magnet. If you ask immigrants why they came here, they will tell it is because the government in their home country doesn't help the people. Is the source of the problem our generous system? I think so.
I agree that the political 'hot potato' immigration issue is terrible. Politicians grab a hold of it and exploit it for as long as they can to 'prove' their point and as soon as it becomes too hot they throw it to the next bunch up and comers who want to make their own point with it. (After they have gleaned every bit of advantage to themselves). If a person is born to LEGAL U.S. citizens then a person should be a citizen themselves.
However my point in the 'illegal' status is this.
If my husband and I went into a bank and applied for a bank loan to buy a house and we used illegal documents, false records, and illegally earned money and the bank didn't do enough work to 'really check' and we were granted a loan, we buy the house and move in. We're in right? Yay we did it...
Okay so now we go a little further down the road. My husband and I are living in the house with the kids we moved in with us. And now the bank has figured out that we are not who we say we are..We are frauds. They come and 'take their property (house) back and send us away..We deserve it right? Yes we committed fraud we are not entitled we did not follow the rules..etc.
But..as they are hauling us away. I have the right to say..hey my kids should be able to live in the house, they did not commit fraud, they did not lie, they are victims of my husband's and my choices. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN THAT HOUSE! In fact you need to pay them too, they need doctors, schooling, services, and yes because they are a disadvantaged minority they need college paid for too! That is the issue that I have trouble with. If the children have to pay the price for the parents choices...they are not prepared to live where they came from..maybe, just maybe the parents for the benefit of their children will make different choices. If the reward of having your children getting free housing, food, schooling, medical, dental, and higher education is that you will be sent back ,but not them is still an option, no border in this country is going to stand. It's a FREE for all...oh except for the working class that is busting their butts here.