What is the root of all the animosity towards the immigrant movement, and towards immigrants in general? How do Democratic concerns differ from Republican concerns on immigration? I think it's a question of resources versus racism.
And in both instances, I think it's misplaced.
Republicans are split. Democrats are split. Republicans are split because they either know immigrants personally, and like their work ethic (and lower wages), or they think that they are being overrun by the brown "OTHER". It's the same ugly reason they are anti-gay, and this illness of racism can be mitigated, in most cases, through friendships with the "OTHER".
I know this is simplistic, and that racism occurs everywhere, but I mention this because I want to place racism as a motivation aside, and discuss the resource issue.
My impression is that Democrats are split because we either are for the American ideal that accepts a universal standard for human rights that does not depend on whether one has papers, OR we are concerned because immigrants get the things we want that are LIMITED.
What are those limited resources that everyone wants? Good schools, housing, health care and above all, jobs. My liberal values say that we don't remedy a lack of resources by taking away from the little guy. Even if we are also the little guy. My liberal values say that we are all in this together, and we need to unite and DEMAND jobs, and DEMAND a living wage and decent schools. We must overcome the barriers of language and culture. WE ALL have seen the immigrant community yesterday EXPOSE THE LIE that they will not fight for their rights.
There is much common ground here. It's not a zero-sum game. The government is not adequately addressing our needs, nor is the private sector. Passive-aggression against a group that is clealy a functional and disciplined political force is not likely to bring more of these resources. Recognizing that the priorities of all the people are WAY different from those of the government and NOT BEING DISTRACTED from that fact will get us all very far.
In short, when the government is not serving the people, the people should unite in order to be effective...rather than blame each other.