A lot of good points, but I mostly disagree. I do enjoy a going conversation however.
And I mean this and my previous comments with the utmost of respect, although sometimes difficult to portray over a forum (won't call anybody stupid as I see quite the opposite). I know we can't agree on everything but I still like a good discussion.
I do not believe we 'need a cheap undocumented labor source', The US does need a strong labor force at all its levels, but I believe it should all be documented. As a society modernizes and is better educated its populace does not want to do some of the ugly and hard work, and in that is where immigration has come in throughout history to fill the gap.
I believe the US has either decided to ignore that fact or allowed it to happen for whatever benefit, and therefore we have the labor and human problem we face today.
The US (everyone) benefits from their labor and money (yes, about 85% pay taxes like everyone else, money that they will never see. Plus sales tax etc), but since there is no legal system for them they should all (~12 million of men, women and kids) be rounded up and deported?, even if here for 10-20 years? That surely sounds like the right and feasible thing to do... (je, je used an emoticon) A bit hypocritical in my understanding. Plus very inhumane.
There was an amnesty in 1986 (Under Reagan, for those living here before 1982, about 2-3 million) and it was partially mishandled with some big loopholes, but it was needed the same that it is today some 27 years later. Now there are more undocumented immigrants but the laws have not really changed to try and help the problem. It has even been made more difficult. And closing the border (starting with Clinton) has made the problem worst as those that would come to work seasonally are now afraid to go back and forth.
There has been small programs to give work permits to people from civil war or natural catastrophe torn countries, in mostly central america, but no other amnesties etc.
Should those that hire undocumented workers be fined etc?, sure but almost none of that is going on. Although under the perspective that these are people that only want to work I can't really see the strong need to do that.
The part of "To have a law, and not bother to enforce it, just encourages people to break it which in turn leads to breaking others. " is a bit of a stretch as the crime rate is the same or lower than any other part of society in the same income/education bracket. The one law, which a lot are forced to break, is the wonderful idea of not having access to driving licenses, which means they can't normally get insurance so when they are in an accident there is no coverage for either party. But it is Politically correct...
We could also go into the subject of "a nation of laws" but we all know that laws are selectively enforced (good thing for traffic warnings instead of fines) and defined by the best paid lawyer. So if every law was always enforced to its highest consequence we would call it a totalitarian regime which no-one would be too happy with.
I believe we should use the labor force to improve the country, without demonizing the workers. Find a system that educates and improves the lives of those on the lowest levels of society (whether immigrant or US born) and the whole country would benefit. Deporting and putting people in jail for trying to work does not do anybody any good.
A lot more points to this subject but I will leave them for another time.
Take care
Javier