We can't stop illegal immigration so make it legal.

Charge every visitor $500 and welcome them . If they claim they're here as tourists give them a free ticket for the boat to the statue of liberty .

But also tell every visitor that if  what they really want to do is to get a job, that's fine.Be cheaper and safer  for Manuel and Alma to  take the bus to Juarez , walk across and pay the US Treasury  instead of a coyote.And give them a refund of $250 and an application for a social security card. That'll take care  of the non- existent ss Trust Fund problem.And the equally laughable claim that a limited number of workers will have to support all those retirees.

Fine anyone who hires anyone to do anything without withholding social security and paying the employer's share. And of course observing the minimum wage laws.Check for compliance at  the work sites, the lawns and the playgrounds where the nannies hang out.-If they work "off the books" deport them . 

If there are no illegal immigrants who can be hired at illegal wages  many employers will prefer someone who already speaks the language.If there are fewer jobs for immigrants because american citizens are preferred,there'll be fewer immigrants.

Encourage all visitors to become citizens. But if they don't, the only benefits they obtain is to be treated in the Emergency Room . No citizenship for children born here.Or education. Make it as easy as possible for anyone who wants to become a citizen. And un- appealing for someone who remains  without becoming one. 

Will this be more popular with the Tea Partiers ? Of course not.They don't like illegal immigrants because they're poor and speak Spanish. . They aren't complaining about Scandinavians  Most of the objections to immigrants is just good old fashioned prejudice. Sort of thing that caused protestants to burn down convents in the  1840s and Irish immigrants to hang negroes in the  1860s. No one likes anyone different Until they get used to them.

But as long as that different person is destroying the wage structure, there's good reason to resent them.

I started this as a comment on Articleman's Twelve but no sense cluttering up his show.