[RockyMtnMan]

Sure, send them back and accelerate the ones waiting to enter the country legally. The ones that have applied to entire will probably earn more and contribute more to our society than the current law-breaking freeloaders.

[Age of Reason]

The ones that have applied to entire will probably earn more and contribute more to our society than the current law-breaking freeloaders.

Send them all back.

We are full up.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"send [illegal immigrants] back and accelerate the ones waiting to enter the country legally. The ones that have applied to entire will probably earn more and contribute more to our society than the current law-breaking freeloaders."

I'm torn between two thoughts on the issue you raised.

I believe in the rule of law. So I'm not happy with a blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants.

On the other hand, if the ones who entered illegally are likely to have greater initiative and are more willing to take risks, I wonder whether having an immigration policy skewed in their favor might actually help solidify an entrepreneurial culture.

Maybe that helps me to identify some assumptions I've been making. I think there are four key elements to long term economic growth: (1) A government under the rule of law, (2) efficient capital markets, (3) efficient labor markets and (4) an entrepreneurial culture.

When I think of immigration, I have both (3) and (4) in mind.