Because we have an essentially emotional and, in my
opinion, schizophrenic approach to the issue. Politicians use illegal immigration as a
wedge issue to rally their base of support while at the same time refusing, year after
year, to even undertake serious debate and legislation geared towards reforming the
current broken system. That is, they want the votes, but they don't want to do anything
about it. In fact, if the issue was solved, even short term, they would lose it as an
issue to bring up in the campaign, so it is in their interest as politicians to do
nothing, while exhorting otherwise.
As ordinary citizens,
many people are angry at what they see as attacks on "traditional" American culture
through language, flags, holidays, etc. and want the border secured, but those same
citizens would never consider working the asparagus fields or the orchards for less than
minimum wage. Then when food prices increase as a labor shortage drives up wages, they
complain about high prices at the grocery store. Americans want their cake and eat it
too.
The immigration programs (deportation, Bracero, etc.)
closely mirror the economic situation of the time, and reveal what is really driving the
debate: not illegality or even border security, but economic
realities.
As for the Immigration reforms of 1986, these
were contradictory in that it offered amnesty for those here illegally, but did so
without any long term solution, so the same issue is now a problem
again.
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