The difference between our southern neighbors and your grandparents is that we have arranged things such that the vast majority who would want to live or work here have no hope of ever being able to do so legally. We have a quota system that limits the numbers of people we will take from any one country. Same number for each country, same number for Finland, Poland, or Mexico.
Of course, Mexico is in walking distance and it would make more sense to allow more legal immigration (at least work visas) from our nearest neighbor, particularly since we have a shortage of Americans willing to do the work we often hire illegal Mexican and Central American immigrants for. But they're generally not white enough to be considered desirable, so we came up with a way to keep them out that sounds fair.
Of course, Mexico is in walking distance and it would make more sense to allow more legal immigration (at least work visas) from our nearest neighbor, particularly since we have a shortage of Americans willing to do the work we often hire illegal Mexican and Central American immigrants for. But they're generally not white enough to be considered desirable, so we came up with a way to keep them out that sounds fair.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
