My viewpoint is that if the presence of new immigrants adversely affects the economic situation of any group of American citizens (I know, you think it's ok to overlook the high school dropouts), they should be prevented from coming here.
This is basically unAmerican. Not just the willful disregard for America The Melting Pot, The Statue Of Liberty and all that. But our economy, watered down though it may be, is essentially founded on the principle that competition brings out best in people and that stifling competition brings out the worst. Immigration is good for the economy as a whole and competition is good for the high school dropouts. What's the problem?
Also last I checked dropping out of high school was a choice, with consequences. As the only high school graduate of four children in my family I have a real hard time feeling sorry for those who didn't give a fuck in school.
It's not just high school dropouts that are competing. I don't know the exact numbers, but about 65% of the population didn't graduate from a four year university. Many of those people are competing with immigrants of different legalities. It doesn't take a PhD to figure out wages will level off for different industries when a flood of people who are willing to work for less compete for those jobs. This is especially true in a right to work state with weak unions. Personally I prefer having a strong middle class. I don't know about you.
it's worth noting that between World War II in the late 70's, the middle class was much stronger and immigration was not anything like it was between the early to mid 80's and 2008. There might just be a correlation...
For the record, I don't hate Hispanic people or anything like that. I might even know a few living in a city that's probably 45 Hispanic by now. The border situation as a joke though. Allowing millions of people to come through unchecked his totally unacceptable, and if nothing else think of national security concerns. You libertarians still care about that right?