[ken5050]

That's one reason why it's proposed..but most illegals today are paid less than the minimum wage...indeed, that's one reason why it's easy to employ them...if you're forced to pay the same wages, then most will hire Americans....what the unintended consequnce will be is that it will cause "wars' between "legal" and "illegal" Mexicans...

[swarthyguy]

The solution will be a new influx of illegals to take the jobs the newly legals have.

If the newly legals experience a significant drop in their employment rate, my guess is that the thinking is that those who move into the legal market will make enough of a contribution via taxes and FICA that will make up for any additional welfare/entitlement/unemployment insurance costs.