I think you may be overlooking the level of desperation coming from the "build the wall, deport them all"-types. They viewed the 2016 election as the Flight 93

I think you may be overlooking the level of desperation coming from the "build the wall, deport them all"-types. They viewed the 2016 election as the Flight 93 election: they could either sit back and face certain death, or they could try storming the cabin and at least have a chance. While there are challenges and hardships in fixing the immigration situation, they would prefer to face those issues rather than sit back while the nation commits suicide. This choice is also made easier for them, as many of them are starting at the same point as you are. They don't believe maintaining the birth rate is that vital. They don't know or don't believe in the benefits of free trade. They believe that kicking out 20 million consumers is fine because Americans will be producing for Americans now and not the Chinese. It's easy to sell people on economic policies that have seen benefits and unseen costs, even if overall they cost society as a whole.