How do you think the situation with illegals crossing from mexico should be handled?

yes, mostly work. Most are extremely poor, and must come to send money to their families. They do work that no one else wants to do. They bend over in fields from daylight til dark for a meager wage. Most are good people when they come here, some are very young and influenced greatly by our american ways, and get into trouble. Can you imagine being a mother and having to let your son go to another country just to support your family?

That must suck a$$!

okay, send them all home and see what happens. You'll pay 20.00 for a single watermelon because the farmer couldn't get anyone to pick th edarn thing. The majority of companies who hire illegal do so knowing they are illegal, help them get their paperwork in order, and then pay them a ridiculously low salary. I agree they should not break the law, and they should have to abide by ours, but sending them all home will get us nowhere, they'll be back tomorrow, regardless of the so called "fence". There needs to be a way in the middle for these people to help themselves. A worker program would be a good place to start. If you haven't seen the movie "A Day without a Mexican" maybe you should, it might shed a different light on it for you.

So we should encourage them to break the law? They already broke our laws in coming over illegally. Who knows what other laws they might break if they are willing to do that. Add to that many of these companies who hire only illegal immigrates do so and treat them like slaves. They don't get minimum wages, they don't get health benefits, and they often do not work in safe working enviroments. They cannot complain to anyone and are often abused and/or threatened in order to make them work even more. We have laws in place for immigration and how work places are to be maintained for a reason. To allow some to break these laws just to save money isn't right.

waste of time answer, if that is how you got your points, it's clear you spend alot of time trying to cheat the system and gain another penny or two.

I have always felt that they are criminals and should be sent back; they broke the laws to get here. HOWEVER, I have to say that your discussion and opinions have given me a lot to think about and to reconsider. That's why this place is so great- if you are willing to listen and to think, you will be able to learn and to grow. My question is this: if these people are here illegally, how are they able to pay income taxes and social security? I would think that they do not have U.S. Social Security numbers, and I don't see how they could be paying into the system without one.

If she is working for a big company chances are she is paying into out social security fund, money she will never see, and she is also paying taxes, that if she would normally be eligible for a return she will never see that either. There has to be a way for the ones who really want to be productive, and law abiding.