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The biggest problems, as I see it, are these;
1: Costs. While illegal immigrants do put more into the economy than they take out, the localized effects have been NASTY. Illegals comprise a huge segment of the farm/construction work sector in the Southern US, and have a pretty high rate of on-the-job injury. Also, they are exposed to diseases ( especially Tuberculosis and Typhoid ) which we have little experiance with in the US, these illnesses having been wiped out years ago. These strains of disease are frequently drug-resistant. All this adds up to lots of Illegals ( with no health insurance ) needing emergency care RIGHT NOW. They can't pay, so the hospitals write off the losses until they go bankrupt; something which is occurring with ever-increasing frequency along the southern border.
2: Population: The rate of illegal immigration has accelerated dramatically in the last few years, and a lot of people are starting to wonder if the job market can keep up with the growing supply of labour. An oversupply of labour depresses wages.
3: Disease: See above ( 1 ) regarding TB. Tuberculosis isn't the only ( or even the worst ) such concern; drug-resistant strains of Measels, Rubella, Typhus, Typhoid, and even Polio have popped up inside the US in recent years, mostly carried here by Illegal Immigrants who weren't checked and treated prior to entering the US.
4: Crime: It's an "open secret" on both sides of the border than the Fox Administration is using the US as a dumping-ground for criminals, in an effort to rid Mexico of some of its' nastier elements and relieve prison overcrowding. Worse yet, drug-smuggling cartels ( backed up by ex-military known as Zetas ) have been using various stretches of the US/Mexico border to bring drugs ( esp Cocaine ) into the US. Border Patrol agents and landowners are routinely fired upon and sometimes killed. Worst of all, the smugglers have driven the old-fashioned "Coyote" out of buisiness. Instead of simply charging money, they say "Sure, I'll get you to El Norte...but you gotta carry this 20K of Coke across the burning desert for me, and if you die or get lost or screw me over I'll kill your entire family after raping your teenage daughter, your wife, and your dog. Oh, and by the way, I'm not giving you any water or food, and these guys with guns are gonna follow you to make sure you don't get out of line." The situation is thereby made MUCH worse for the Illegals themselves, most of whom genuinely just want to come here and work.
5: Environmental damage and vandalism: A group of 500+ people walking through the desert does a LOT of damage. Fences destroyed, litter, water depletion, cattle stampeded or released, houses broken into...my uncle Parker had to deal with all of this and more besides in a one-year period. His dog was shot, over 400 head of cattle were released when a 10' fence was cut down with boltcutters, and his car was stolen no less than five times.
Opposition to illegal immigration isn't just racism and xenophobia, although it certainly does motivate some people. Lots of people have other, legitimate reasons for concern, and would really appreciate not being pidgeonholed as racist redneck trash simply because of it.
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