America ought to look north for a start. Canada is also a “nation of immigrants.” But Canada has a points-based system of immigration. Education, profession, work experience, employment skills, age, funds, and language skills all play a role. In 2012, only about 5 percent of people who obtained permanent resident status in the U.S. were professionals or had advanced degrees. Canada nearly doubled that rate. And recently Canada has put more emphasis on having a job already lined up.

Australia has a similar system and does a vigorous job on enforcement. Australia also creates strong incentives for would-be immigrants to follow the law, by permanently denying any chance of residence to those who try to enter the country without a visa.

Canada and Australia are countries with generous, but normal immigration policies. Neither state tolerates millions of undocumented immigrants. They also rank near the top of nations with foreign-born populations. Citizens in both those nations sometimes complain about the overall number of immigrants coming in, but unlike in America those numbers are knowable. There is no overall sense of lost authority or chaos when it comes to their borders and policy. The American states could even imitate Canada’s provinces in making known the kinds of workers or employment that are in demand.