I think you have hit on something here.
Not only are the Mexicans consumers, but they export a lot of dollars out of the country, sopping up more printed cash. Then, their cheap labor holds down costs - keeping products cheaper than they would be if you had to pay somebody to say, pick fruit, at $13/hr instead of $6, plus there are no overhead benefits like unempolyment insurance, workmen's comp, IRAs, Social Security, or pesky labor laws.
So, not only do illegals keep the population and consumer base growing, they greatly help in driving first costs downward, thereby breaking inflationary pressures. Of course, this drives down ALL wages, but that mostly affects the lower rungs of society, so for the Big Boyz, it's a win.
But, these teeming millions drive up costs in some sectors, such as medical, insurance and welfare. However, most consumers aren't really paying attention to the 'why' and thereby don't see that in the same light they see items costed on store shelves. The blame can cleverly be transferred by demogogue politicians to greedy doctors and corrupt money-bag companies. Another 'plus' factor is these skyrocketing costs is the exponential increase in demand for government services and regulation.
So, it's a four-bagger for the Liberals! Unfortunately, it's also eventually three-strikes-and-you're-out for America as we become part of the Third World with exploding corruption, worthless money, no civil rights, and a huge and restless underclass being milked by the very wealthy who live behind their gates and shard-topped walls and control everything!
I have held these economic opinions for some time. I also don't want to invalidate my conclusions by invoking my other opinions, but here goes (self-admitted tin foil alert, LOL)...........................
I wonder if some "gentleman's agreement" hasn't already been reached about this whole illegal immigration mess between the 1st-World and the 3rd-World leaders? Maybe a handshake at an international G8 conference..........Bilderburgers..........whatever? In other words, the fix is already in and this is going to happen no matter what, because WE HAVE TO keep the economy going.
..............and paralleling our lax immigration controls, the Europeans are accomplishing the same thing economically (due to lowered caucasian birthrates) by letting in their version of the Mexicans.................North African Muslims. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........................?
Bush, as evidenced by another Thread currently running at FreeRepublic dealing with his Administration's policy- comments, seems willing to push for amnesty against all rational arguements; at least those voiced here. Dubya has been accused in the past of not explaining our motives behind going up against Sadaam and rallying a larger portion of the American and free-world population behind these decisions. Likewise, he has not, to my knowledge, given a major policy speach on THIS subject.
Everybody is silent. Everybody is looking the other way. Discussion of this subject is radioactive as evidenced by Tanredo's banishment. Nobody seems to want to talk about the gross violations of our laws.