Is immigration a right or a privilege? And is illegal immigration a nuisance or a crime?

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35. Traditionally it was a might makes right kind of thing

People did it if they could get away with it. The idea of protecting the borders was not even possible until relatively recently. They could keep people out from Ellis Island but in the 19th century, how could they stop people from coming into the West, etc.

Immigration laws are only self enforced. Those who have a good job and a home and visit another country are likely to go home. Those who are poor and see opportunity elsewhere are going to move toward the opportunity and take the risk of deportation. That risk is likely greater in some countries than others. Ours is obviously unwilling to hire enough agents to go around looking for illegal immigrants.

Keep in mind you can deport someone and after all that effort, they can sneak back.

Migration is natural to humans and every country would be a lot more sensible to just find a way to accommodate whatever natural movement is occurring. This could cut down on a lot of unpleasantness, as being around people who are different makes people less resistant to them. As was said, the people who are most against immigration are the ones who live in the parts of the countries that don't have many immigrants.