Our favorite waiter/busboy at the local Souplantation is from Mexico.  We are regulars, pathetically so.  (Our first visit was when our son was 5.  He ate some Caesar salad, his first intake of a green substance not produced by his own nose.  So we kept coming back.)
Manuel works harder than any other employee in the place, or in most other places we have been.  He does so with a remarkably cheerful attitude and dignity.  He, more than anything else, is why we have continued there regularly.  In the 12 years we have known him his english has improved very little if at all.  Although we genuinely like him, we have never been able to engage in anything beyond the most simple of conversations.  ( How is your family, did you see the last World Cup game? Etc.)
I have never asked Manuel, and never would, if he was here legally.  At this point in time, I don't really care.  I know he pays his taxes, payroll through the company, sales tax on his purchases, and for the last two years property on the home his two jobs allow him to afford.  even if he were here illegally, I think he should be welcome.  I have no problems giving a form of amnesty to Manuel and his family.
Sure, he should have to come clean if he wants the privileges of legality and he should bear the burden  of covering the expenses of his normalization.  A fee of $5000 would be excessive and so far beyond his reach as to force him to remain in the shadows.  Something around $2000 seems more appropriate.
In spite of my support of Manuel and the millions of others like him, he does not tell the whole story.  For every positive success such as Manuel there are others who don't succeed.  Lacking skills, initiative or opportunity, they came pursuing a dream that has little chance of being fulfilled.  Lacking regular employment, they stand outside home improvement stores looking for day jobs that provide poor pay and no benefits, and for which they are paid under the table.  For many, they are forced to share cramped apartments with other struggling immigrants.  These stressful and unhealthy conditions lead to a multitude of problems for them and for our society that graciously attempts to cure and treat their illnesses and educate their children.
We need an immigration plan that addresses both of these groups of people, the Manuels and the others, as well as protects us from those who would do us harm.  For those of us who aren't clouded by years of politics as done in Washington, it seems rather simple.  Find a way to allow productive and honorable immigrants such as Manuel to become a true member of society, and secure the borders to guarantee that we are not overburdened with those for whom no true hope exists or job is waiting and not endangered by the few who have harmful intent.