It's not like immigrants fleeing the economic collapse in South America can just submit their paperwork and wait their turn to come to America "the right way."

Regarding the right ways, there's work visa, family member, and lastly, diversity visa, i.e. visa lottery, which you left out.

Regarding the point on South America, I have several relatives who have escaped said political/economic collapse in a South American country living in the US on asylum claims. I know every situation is different and unique, but I'm certain they had to apply for it in some capacity and not just show up at the southern border/port of entry. I would have to double check how it went down exactly, but there are more 'official' routes of seeking asylum than just showing up at the southern border.

We've intentionally made it as difficult as possible - for many people flat out impossible - to immigrate.

Completely agreed, and limiting the courts that process asylum claims won't help either.

Anyhow, the point of my post wasn't so much to say these people deserve bad treatment because they're not refugees; I don't believe that. The only point of my post was to highlight that not everyone at the southern border is a refugee escaping dire violence and death, just like what happened in the EU in 2015/2016....