The sad truth is that overwhelmingly these illegals are needed in our workforce because the rest of us established, arrogant citizens are too educated to do menial tasks.

That is irrelevant to the discussion, although many pols want it to be a part of it.  Quite simply, the work force is not a function of illegal immigration except where the 2 meet by coincidence.  And using the work force as justification for illegal immigration, while popular in some political corners, only serves to demonstrate the lack of a coherant argument for legalizing crime that those politicians have.

Long before, during and after this "crises" of illegal immigration, we are going to have a need for additional workers in some fields.  And while congress has made allowances for some guest workers, they are shirking their duty by not creating a comprehensive program.  And the reason for the shirking is 2 fold - either they want to legalize crime, or they are afraid of legalizing crime.  Stupid?  yes.  But then isn't politics when boiled down to the simple truth always stupid?

And using the work force as justification for illegal immigration, while popular in some political corners, only serves to demonstrate the lack of a coherant argument for legalizing crime that those politicians have.

The reasoning is ad hoc because it is now a fact that we are stuck with over 12 million who have already assumed American jobs. It was never an excuse not to tighten the borders, which have always been open because of the fifty year need for migrant farm hands. When the first "amnesty" was declared was the time for blood spilling on the borders. 

I know many Americans who would be HAPPY to do construction, roofing, landscaping, meat packing...jobs that pay reasonable salaries but which have been farmed out increasingly to illegals. But let's keep stereotyping illegals as fruit pickers and hotel maids.

Backbreaking jobs are no longer considered part of the American dream. That is why the great middle class scrambles to put its kids in college.

The reasoning is ad hoc because it is now a fact that we are stuck with over 12 million who have already assumed American jobs.

I do not agree with that statement.  It is a surrender to the problem.  We do not have to be "stuck" with 12 million, or even 1 million.  There are solutions to the problem, but there are no real leaders willing to address it.