I'm sure they wouldn't be here "illegally" if there was a viable way for them to be here legally
With all due respect, there are legal ways to emigrate to the United States. I have a friend who spent a great deal of time and money to gain citizenship here legally. But she did so. There are millions of undocumented workers (would you prefer that term?) who have chosen not to follow the law. They have, instead, chosen to enter this country, and stay, illegally.
I truly believe the problem the majority of Americans have with illegal aliens (undocumented workers, etc.) is the very fact that they are here illegally. They have chosen to break the law. I think the vast majority of Americans would welcome any immigrant so long as the rule of law is followed.
Forgive me bluesapphire, but what is your solution to this problem? How would you reform immigration? Realize that we've already tried general amnesty (Reagan did so in 1986). 20 years later, and we're right back where we started. If we grant general amnesty today, that solves the problem for 12 million or so people. So what do we do in 2027? And is it really right or fair to ignore a group of people who deliberately break the law just because there are 12 million law breakers?
People everywhere have a right to improve their lives by going where they have better opportunity for themselves and their families. However, we must ask the question: DO PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO WHERE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED AND DO AS THEY PLEASE?
Terry, Lou Dobbs on CNN.com did an excellent article on immigration reform a couple of months ago. I tried to search for it but couldn't find it. Basically his feeling was: a pox on both houses (Democrats and Republicans). Neither has shown any interest in true immigration reform, mainly for their own self-interest (read: their political contriubtors' interest).
I would rephrase your question above as "Do people have the right to ignore whatever laws they please?"
There are legal ways to enter the U.S. That millions of people have ignored those legal means and ways and instead entered and stayed underground does not make it right.
And yes they are being exploited. Very often undocumented workers take horrible jobs for less than minimum wage. The Dallas Morning News recently ran a series of articles regarding a meat packing plant in a small Texas town that was raided and hundreds of workers were arrested and deported. The town damn near shut down. Children were left without one or both parents.
There is enough blame to go around on this issue. Liberal, conservative, Democrat and Republican all have much to answer for. And the Bush plan is, in my opinion, a farcical joke. But so is general amnesty. I think some sort of middle ground should be established whereby borders are protected, companies are made to follow established employment law and immigrants are required to follow immigration law.
It won't happen of course as special interests will, as usual, prevail.
Chris