Let's get this out of the way first: Each wave of immigration to the US has been greeted with equal parts of xenophobic prejudice and reliance on the immigrants to do the scut work. 150 years ago they were Irish and Chinese, then they were Italians, then they were Jews from Eastern Europe... after WWII, they were Catholics from Eastern Europe. Now they come from Central and South America, and speak Spanish. So what?

OK, that's done... now let's try to see the real problem. In the discussion I've heard about this current bill, it appears that both opposition and support cross party lines. Instead, regardless of their party affiliation, legislators from border states -- that is, the southern US border -- are more likely to oppose the compromise because the measures aren't harsh enough. Those from interior and northern states are more likely to support it.

Why is that? The answer I've heard most often is "crime". Not so much the 'crime' of entering illegally, but crossing the border with the intent of committing real crime, especially drug smuggling. [There's human smuggling, too -- that is, promising to get others across, then ripping them off and, in some cases, leaving them to die.] The states on the border are the first, if not only, line of defense against the crime.

Meanwhile, there appears to be plenty of work for the non-criminals to do when they get here. Physically arduous, low-paid work -- I know this personally, having been the sole Anglo in a landscape/sprinkler labor crew, which is where and how I learned what little Spanish I now know -- but honest work for honest people who appear to have come here for just that purpose. How they manage to live and stay healthy and send some of their wages back to the home country is completely beyond me.

Mind you, REB, I've only lived in Texas for 18 months, and farther from the actual border than you do. I may not see the whole picture. But my understanding of the underlying problem with immigration in the 21st century is the cost to government services -- schools and hospitals most of all -- without a concomitant investment in the form of income taxes (notwithstanding that they all pay the same retail sales taxes we do).

Once again, my experience is limited, but relevant -- and I lay the blame more on the employers than the 'undocumented' workers. The company I worked for paid every one of their employees, Anglo or Mexicano, male or female, office or field, as independent contractors. They did not withhold Federal income tax*, and reported the income on 1099s... that is, if they reported it at all. Thousands of others, one can assume, are paid entirely under the table (remember "Nannygate"?)

My point has two parts: [1] How can any government expect taxes to be paid on unreported income? [2] Why is it the workers' fault when their employers are committing tax fraud?

If, as I suspect (and leaving xenophobic paranoia aside), the real immigration problem is lack of payment in taxes for services rendered, the better solution is not to close the borders, but to open the payroll ledgers of the employers. The IRS even has a form to fill out to blow the whistle on such behaviors. I don't know that it's available in Spanish, but it ought to be. I've filled one out in English.

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[* -- Non-Texans may not know: there's no state income tax here. Y'all come down!]