The immigration rallies across America showed that restrictionists aren't the only ones with strong views. But beyond podium pounding, compelling arguments are also necessary. As the Senate goes back this week to the task of crafting an immigration bill, it is crucial to focus on the right reasons for creating a guest-worker program and legalizing 12 million illegal immigrants.

The case for immigration doesn't have to do as much with the Latino vote or civil rights. It should center instead on America's growth, competitiveness and dynamism.

This month's rallies of thousands of people in many major cities raised the importance of the Latino vote. But 40 percent of Latinos are foreign-born; and since many of them aren't citizens, they can't vote. And those who can vote are likely to care mostly about the same things that other Americans care about. The 2004 National Survey of Latinos, conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that the top issues for Latino voters included education, the economy and health care--similar to many other Americans.

Just as important is that Latinos have a variety of views, backgrounds and opinions. When it comes to illegal migrants, for instance, Latinos show significant differences. Another Pew Hispanic Survey found that although there's an overall positive perception about immigrants, different generations have different perceptions about undocumented workers. More foreign-born Latinos than American-born ones believe that illegal immigrants should be allowed to become citizens.

So rallies might give the impression that Latinos have a loud, unique and common voice. The group, however, is too broad and diverse to speak of common views or trends that will coherently translate into votes.

Then there are those who view immigration, and legalizing undocumented workers, as a matter of civil rights. In the immigrant-rights rally in Alabama, Rev. Lawton Higgs--a United Methodist minister and activist--reportedly said, “We've got to get back in touch with the civil rights movement, because that's what this is about.” Similarly, when talking at one of the rallies, Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy linked the immigration fight to the civil rights movement.

The problem, however, is that, say, equal protection rights--from the 14th Amendment--have a constitutional origin. Illegal immigrants, as human beings, are certainly entitled to human rights. But illegal residents are not technically within the jurisdiction of the American political community and are thus not entitled to the protection of certain rights that are, by constitutional design, directed to people within the jurisdiction.

To come under the purview of constitutional rights, illegal immigrants would first have to become recognized members of the political community. So the questions are whether and why they should be able to become members; not whether they have the same political rights as other members.

Moreover, those reverting to the '60s' civil rights movement are looking to the past, not the future--which is where immigration belongs.

According to forecasts based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the domestic labor force must expand over the next few years for the United States to maintain at least 3 percent annual growth in its GDP. Since not enough people are being born to sustain this expansion, there's then a demographic challenge. The natural candidates to fill the gap are immigrants.

Additionally, guest workers and immigrants are good for the economy. With a low 4.7 percent unemployment rate, current workers, including illegal migrants, have been clearly absorbed by the labor market. And guest workers who work for lower wages keep costs down, passing the benefit to consumers.

Immigration isn't all blissful: unlike commodities, newcomers bring cultures and hence potential complications, which is partly why assimilation and accommodation are essential. On the whole, however, immigrants bring many benefits.

Although restrictions are necessary and punishment is needed for those who've broken the law, the case for welcoming new guest workers and regularizing the status of illegal immigrants is compelling. It has to do with growth and competitiveness.

The debate on immigration reform shouldn't be about ethnic identity, voting blocs or entitlements. We'd be far better off by turning to hard work, opportunity and prosperity. That's what immigration has brought to America, and that's what it can still contribute by setting the sights on the future.

Jose Enrique Idler is a research fellow at AEI.