This issue would make a great example of your "Grassy Knoll" issue as far as researching it is concerned. I have looked into illegal immigration crime rates, and have found so many studies with so many axes to grind that I suspect most of the numbers out there, including those that say much of the crime can be laid at their door and those that say they are upstanding citizens with no crime problems. Same for studies that try to find out whether illegals are net tax consumers or net tax payers. The range of conclusions I've seen is enormous.

There are so many ways to play tricks with the real numbers without actually telling lies. Tax payer or tax consumer? Which taxes? Are payroll taxes included? What benefits are considered when discussing tax consumption? Are things being left out, or shoved in where they shouldn't be?

You pointed out one more level, which is the question "WHICH illegal immigrants?" Obviously, the population is widely varied.

To find out the whole truth I'd have to go in and grind the damn numbers myself, which would be a month-long job I'm going to do for free.

The way I see it is that it isn't just an economic issue any more. There are real security issues to border control.

Step One is to control the influx. Walls, fences, guards, three-headed dogs, or invisible force fields. Don't care how, but it's got to be done. Once that's under more control, we can start dealing with the people already here on a rational, case-by-case basis.

But if you're trying to bail out a boat, it helps if you plug the leak first.