Policing illegal immigration is treating the symptom. Tens of millions of illegal immigrants arrive because (a) it's so hard to be legal, and (b) socialism gives them a great deal for nothing.
If the gov't would stop stealing from legals and giving to illegals, thus curtailing the demand for entry at all costs, there wouldn't be a need to police illegal immigrants.
"Papieren, bitte" ("papers, please") was long considered the indicator of the worst of totalitarian governance. Suddenly it's considered normal and expected - that indicates something has gone horribly wrong.
At no time did I feel unduly repressed. Quite the contrary: when faced with the necessity of producing "two photo ID's" from time to time, 'twas a simple matter to whip out the AGO card and the (MI or VA or NC or TX) DL.
Furthermore, there are places and events where I want no one but citizens admitted...not even legal immigrants (polls, f'r'instance). To have to prove my citizenship before voting, and knowing that Jose and Xu and Bruce and Karl and Celeste had to do the same, would fill me with a confidence in the electoral system that I have not felt in many years. And that's just one example.
"Papers, please"... would have a welcome sound to me.
Especially the "please" part.
How am I wrong?