Check out “Operation Wetback”.
The difference today is- Instant check of ID; a short turnaround on SSN’s, self-deportation ( or self-repatriation as I prefer to call it would proceed at at least a similar rate, provided no domestic sanctuary(ies).
The “anchor baby” interpretaion of citizenship needs to be clarified- I believe it is a misinterpretation of federal law.
Many US Citizens are out of work; returning military being cut out of the services could be employed doing this and securing the border simultaneously- these are “shovel ready” jobs at the federal level that would actually create a vacuum for jobs for unemployed Americans.
I agree with much of this. MY question still remains about HOW to deal with those families who have been here for 25 years or more with children and grandchildren who are all Americans....and no longer speak the language of the parents’ country of origin. AND, what if the country of origin is extremely dangerous for the elderly original parents? In this case, I like what Speaker Gingrich has proposed....and yes, it should be done on a case by case basis. The way he has described this, it is NOT amnesty. They do not receive citizenship and cannot vote. I DO think they should pay a fine for breaking the law.
And regarding the breaking of the law....(I’m trying to be honest here)...many Americans have encouraged Hispanics in particular to come here and to stay here. They liked their willingness to do hard work, often types of work that others did not want to do. Businesses encouraged it....and often government officials did not enforce the laws. It is understandable that, over the years, many of these people were indirectly encouraged to come here. Many people, legal and illegal were ignoring the law.