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Consequently there are many threads bashing H1B even though these immigrants are legal. Many other threads bemoan perceived cultural threats of immigrants regardless of their legality.

This is true. I can't speak for everyone, but as someone who is generally a Mexo-phile, I should say that the problem as I see it is not merely illegal or legal immigration, but in what numbers. We are admitting, between illegal and legal immigrants, something like a million and a half per year. This is a big country, and the fact that we still have the lowest unemployment rate in the world tells us that they are being absorbed into the economy. But that is a number sufficient to cause visible cultural changes, rather than the slow-motion cultural changes that would be caused if the numbers were smaller.

Most people who favor immigration, which is most people, favor it in numbers at a level that can be assimilated without noticeable changes to the culture. Since the classic-liberal/conservative culture that makes America what it is, is not explicitly taught in schools, it has to be inhaled or absorbed through direct contact. It is the fear of losing that element of our culture that drives the fear, not of immigration, but of million-and-a-half-per-year-immigration.

What is the right number? Its frankly never been discussed publicly. Its a decision that is made behind closed doors, and we simply accept the outcome. Another reason people are a little annoyed.

Now to push this thread a little farther, its interesting to note that we abort a million-plus people per year, which means that our immigration rate approximately equals the numbers we abort, which may explain how we can absorb so many and still have a very low unemployment rate. The newcomers are replacing Americans who were not born. Which might imply that, as we replace Democrat babies with immigrants, these cultural changes are an inevitable consequence.

Still, our political class has not consulted us, its a debate we've never had. So we're having it now.

Noticeable cultural change is inevitable irrespective of immigration so I don't see why someone would oppose immigration for that reason.

I don't think it is primarily a question of the numbers of immigrants but rather of who they are (another reason to oppose illegal immigration - they have no respect for the law). Our government should always be striving for policies with the greatest possible net social benefit. We have no such strategic immigration policy.