Q... "The economy is the real problem that must be tackled, immigration is a sideshow,..."

Yes. No.

Immigration, "illegal" or legal brings the very poor and the very rich to our country(s). Those rich take away jobs (businesses that people have struggled to build because they didn't have money in abundance)) and the poor get minimum wage.

The existing rich of this country(s) cringe at paying a higher minimum wage even when there is poverty... EVEN WHEN THERE IS POVERTY.