Are you seriously proposing that the United States participate in something like the EU for the Americas? I don't think that Americans will be too pleased with the transfer payments that would be required to prop up the economic basket cases south of the border. Any such attempt would bankrupt us.
There should be a work visa for Mexicans, and the large population of illegal immigrants given strong incentive to participate.
Our economy desperately needs a non-English speaking workforce with an average seventh grade education.
This is a multi-language world, and America is stronger for trying at least to grow by including its neighbors to the south and their language, Spanish.
How 'bout our neighbors to the south learning English - the language of commerce worldwide. Why not suggest Chinese - there are so many more of them.
We are stronger as a country by reaching out and growing; political common interest with Mexico will be based on economic interest. Trade in labor and good with Mexico needs to be legitimized by a practicable system of work visas, that would help both countries account for economic activity and increase the security of both countries.
Right now the illegal immigration situation is creating a vulnerability for this country; illegal smuggling of *anything* -- whether labor or goods -- creates an opportunity for smuggling inidividuals that are hostile to our country. We can eliminate this risk to national security by giving illegal immigrants a real opportunity to arrive here in a documented, acceptable way. The only people who do NOT win in this scenario are businesses that knowingly hire cheap undocumented labor and deprive them of benefits paid to legal workers. I say, offer all illegal/undocumented immigrants the chance to obtain a fixed-term, conditionally renewable work visas, now.