And before that America needed numbers of immigrants who would homestead the west. However….when most of the waves of Irish alighted here (during potato famine for example,) they were vetted for health, cash on hand, and to ensure they had a trade or sponsorship.

They didn’t come illegally and immediately get put up in free housing with a cell phone and debt card, free healthcare and public education.

Even Bernie before 2016 knew that free social services were incompatible with an open border.