Regarding Immigration:  I feel that the US needs to create a lone city in the mid west somewhere that can be used as a giant "future citizen staging area."  Sort of an "Immigration Internment City" (IIC) that acts as a processing center for legal immigration.

In this isolated city persons who are applying for US citizenship can prove their loyalty and commitment to the US by becoming productive members of the IIC.  Living and working for a designated a period of years in the IIC.  This should allow plenty of time for individual background checks while also stopping the unhindered flow of illegal immigrants throughout the US. 

After which the "IIC graduate" will then be granted citizenship along with its freedoms and rights.

Failure to assimilate to the IIC would result in extended internment time, or deportation.