Eric,

Yes, immigration is a sticky problem. As I mentioned, people evolve, and devolve, both upwards and downwards, sideways and sometimes not all...
People need to move, and societies need "rules." Unfortunately, biology doesn't necessarily conform to political rules or national boundaries. What worked 200 years ago, won't necessarily work now, when the numbers of people, both citizens and immigrants to a country have multiplied.

According to encyclopedia.com, "The standard current estimate is that approximately 2,500,000 people lived in the thirteen colonies in 1775 (excluding Indians), of whom 460,000 were slaves."

Worldometer says, United States Population (2024) - "The current population of the United States of America is 340,990,003 as of Wednesday, January 17, 2024, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data 1."

So, say, a 136.4 fold increase. However, the world's landmass and oceans have remained the same. Whatever bounty our forefather's and mother's enjoyed has been halved and halved many times over. The competition is through the roof. And that's just for the United States. Our success as a nation is a natural magnet for those in need. So, what kind of measures do we takes to "protect" our borders against biology, and the consequences of unchecked and unmanaged population and the diminishment of resources caused by such unmanaged biological processes?

If politicians and our citizens only think in terms of rules and regulations to control immigrants, what are the odds of success? It seems to me, the discussion and solution must be much broader and found in other places than "control." Perhaps education, philosophy, cooperation and personal responsibility in ways our society as a whole have not entertained before need to be seriously considered. Seeing ourselves as not just citizens of a particular country, but those of the finite earth, might help make our lives more livable in the long run, and immigration may need to be seen more holistically.

The subject of birth control has now become almost taboo in this country, at least for one entire political party. If that's true, how can any political solution be worked out if whole areas of discussion and philosophical thought is precluded, even outlawed??? That's just one subject area that prevents any real workable solutions. What our philosophies are does absolutely limit or broaden our ability to see reality as it is and live in grace in what is real. Our human minds can only approach the great reality with reverence and humility. Respect for our limitations, others and our home, requires open minds and respect for a common good. When that is the ethos, better solutions I think will follow. It's a big order, but the concepts of respect and cooperation need to be a basis for solutions. Then, everyone will feel that they have a seat at the table and are being heard, because they will be.