Jim Macklin wrote:
That is a poem on a plaque where immigrants came ashore and
were kept in isolation quarantine for weeks while their
health and skills were checked. If we had a Ellis Island
along the Mexican border, it might apply.

It was also written at a time when world and US population were much
lower, still mostly agrarian, and the US was much less socialistic than
it is today.

Ellis Island was a route for legal immigration. The major compalints
today are about IL-legal immigration, and what happens after that.

And to keep it in-group,
Jose asked:
... and how many children of illegal immigrants will learn to pilot
them, fuel them, or service them?
That depends on how long they get to hang around, the income status
they and their parents reach, etc. If the children were born here and
are therefore citizens (something that might need to be changed), then
they have a fair enough chance at gaining the income necessary to join
the club.

They'll have to work hard though. I hear today that our schools around
here let out at 2PM. No wonder we are not competitive.