If we granted amnesty the newly minted Z’s would try to get higher wages..and a new wave of illegals would follow undercutting them.
Without border enforcement and internal enforcement we are doomed to become a Third World country with masses of uneducated underpayed servants and the rich living in gated communities. Gradually the middle class will be hollowed out as more jobs slip into marginal pay.
History has shown that in most cases like this sooner are later the peasants will be marching in the streets with the rich hanging from the street lamps.
And the newly minted Z-visa holders would be able to sponsor at least 66 million more LEGAL immigrants thru chain migration, i.e., family reunification and that is predicated on there being only 12 million illegals here.
Immigration will be taken off the table in the general election if McCain is the nominee. And you can bet that there will be a tidal wave of illegals who will try to get here before amnesty is passed. As soon as McCain is known to be the Rep nominee, the land rush will start because then it doesn't matter who the nominee is for the Dems. Both parties will pass amnesty. All of this will start before there is any security at the border.