re: I still get a kick out of the phrase, "criminalize illegal aliens."
Had quite a discussion about this with my kids last night who are up in arms about this as well. The bottom line we came to was that this calls for tough love. Mexico won't fix their own problems until it becomes easier for them to do it than to provide an economic conduit for their citizens to border hop. It is similar to a drug or alcohol addiction where the user has to hit rock bottom to start their climb back out. Any enabling by loved ones along the way just postpones the solution.
America is the enabler in this. Man, it's tough to admit I agree with you on something but our borders need to be greatly secured. I don't think there's political will in either party to do it.
Art