How much of the immigration argument is racially motivated?

[Standing Stone]

I find it very disturbing that two groups (whites and blacks)
that as little as 40 years ago could not get along; can now
sit at water coolers and talk pure trash about people of hispanic descent. Is hatred the tie that binds?

My father and I came to disagreement about this. He tried to say that there are two many illegals over here of hispanic dissent. Then in the next breath he said that he noticed all of the fast food jobs taken up by mexican immigrants. This is how I responded:

1. They can't be illegal ifd they've filled out W2 forms. That is the only way you can work at a fast food establishment.
2. Free trade works every where. If I wanted a job abroad I could get one.
3. Most of the jobs taken are low paying jobs that most Americans would shun.
4. Jobs in the manufacturing and private sector require more education than the average illegal possesses. So where is this threat coming from?
Dear Mr. Shawn Lacey,
If sitting around water coolers with others making disparaging , intolerant comments about Mexican people is a pre-requisite for being called American
you can just call me a global citizen or a human. Those two things are more important to me anyway. Thank you for your answer.
Dear Mr. Shane Ladd I'm not of hispanic descent. Check out my profile.
I wrote this question because I don't believe America should contain Clanish
citizens. " Give us your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses". That phrase was never intended to be color specific.
Steven D. and Devil's Advocate thanx for your well thought out and unemotional answers. They are very informative.
Vladbutslauger, I understand your point.
It is hard not to lower yourself to some one elses level when you are being called names. However we all have to remember that two wrongs don't make a right. Three lefts do. Also, it helps to try and consider the source of the other
groups anger.
A few questions I would like to add:
Are the European illegal immigrants that make up 6% are any less of a problem in your eyes?

Since roughly 80% of the workforce of all abbatoirs, chicken , hog, and Dairy farms is of hispanic dissent. Would you be willing to give up your flesh foods? Who would slaughter, decapitate, disembowl, and dissect your meat?
To everyone:
I recognize my ignorance about the falsification of documents in order to obtain w2 forms.