Well, in my opinion, they are people. I’d still say that even if the migrant crime wave Trump and his allies harp on were real, and not a figment of their imagination (violent crime has in fact been plummeting in many cities). And I’d say it even if there weren’t growing evidence that immigration is helping the U.S. economy — indeed, that it may be a major reason for our surprising economic success.
But as it happens, there is a lot of evidence to that effect.
I’ve always understood that immigrants build the economy and generally commit fewer crimes. They take our crappy jobs and start small companies, so they drive down labor costs (they’re willing to work for less) and create new jobs.
So yes, immigration is great for the economy and we need more of it. I’m in favor of moving toward open borders (as in, no quotas, not no restrictions), but only after a lengthy period of increasing quotas so we don’t shock the market too much. If I could make one immigration change, I’d double immigration limits and simplify the paperwork to immigrate legally, and allow a one-time immunity to illegal immigrants to get legal papers (and they’d get priority over new immigrants for the first year or so). And renewing a visa should be simple: if you have regular income or proof of means to pay for yourself and have no criminal history, you get a renewal.