When my ancestors arrived in Texas in the 1850s, they had to prove they had purchased land here and would be able to take care of themselves. That was an entirely different kind of immigration than the monstrous immigrant welfare system we have today that costs US taxpayers tens of billions a year. Trump’s Wall will pay for itself the year after it is built.
When I got my Wife her Green card, I had to prove I could support her, and I had to sign away my Assets and Income to the Government to Guarantee she would not be a “burden” on the Taxpayers.