Thank you Monica. No argument on that assessment - I have experienced our collective inability to discuss rational immigration policy both personally and professionally.

As a third/fourth generation American - and a descendant of the Irish diaspora - both the current and historic attitudes towards and policies governing immigration resonate very deeply with me. The atmosphere of demonizing immigrants is not unique to our age; it was experienced by Irish, Italians, Poles, Chinese and many others. My own ancestors fled famine and poverty, not markedly different than the factors driving immigration today. One difference, of course, is that my ancestors had a legal path because the U.S. hadn't instituted the quotas or exclusions that became a very sad legacy of the American immigration system. When the Haggertys, O'Malley's, Lavins, Faddens and others in my family tree arrived they could get in the U.S. so long as they weren't coughing.