The reason is has quadrupled is a direct result of repeated, and continued, amnesty.
That increase all happened under the status quo. Right? Don't you think we have to change that?
Right now, there are two huge problems. The first is the illegals we already have here, and the second is that more are pouring over the border all the time. And those illegals are pouring over even though the amnesty provisions of this new bill have not yet been enacted. Yet, they're coming over anyway. Plenty of illegals come here, and remain here illegally for years, without ever getting amnesty.
You apparently refuse to recognize the political reality that there are not enough votes in Congress to throw all the current illegals out. So no matter how much you might prefer that, the votes don't exist. Those people are going to stay here, amnesty or no. And whether you like it or not. I hate to break the news to you, but your personal preferences aren't going to change the way Harry Reid and Arlen Spector vote.
So if there isn't enough political muscle to kick out the current crop of illegals, then we've at least got to stop more from arriving. Personally, if the border is secured, I don't think it matters much whether those illegals already here remain as "illegals" (as they do under the status quo), or remain as "legals" (under amnesty). Either way, they're here, and they're staying. Right?
And if they're going to be staying here anyway because we lack the votes to kick them out, then why not accept a limited amnesty if it is linked to a closing of that border? Doesn't that put us in a better place than we're in today?