I’m sure you understand this, but for others who don’t, the narratives around immigration in right wing media are pretty dishonest and manipulative, which is why many people are instinctively suspicious of the entire conversation.

The reality is that every immigrant in the US, illegal or otherwise, actually contributes positively to GDP. The actual negative consequences of immigration are, in many ways, imposed by the regulation framework. If the US allowed every person to cross the border access to a legal path to citizenship, it would arguably fix almost every single issue which is associated with a large population of people who live outside the law. It would largely incentivize good behavior and cultural integration while reducing the economic forces which push people towards criminal activity.