Thank you ozymandias!!!!! I don't believe many in other - possibly more northern states, understand the terrible toll, illegals take in our border states. As you, when I came to the US almost 50 years ago now, I went through an enormous battery of checks, health and otherwise.
I'll give some examples. Illegals cannot find work easily, so the gangs already here and established, often take them in and introduce them to their new 'work' - crime. Our jails are full and because of that, many are let out early. Their children fill up our schools and few already speak English. California is broke and our schools are falling down. Our teachers are being let go by the hundreds, because there is no money to pay them. Because of criminal activities, they are often injured, but our hospitals must take them, and of course, they cannot pay. It is difficult to get a job, if you don't already speak Spanish. Illegals, coming across the border, have killed several border ranchers, who's families have been ranching there for many generations. I remember a few years ago, my 'phone book was delivered in Spanish! Those criminally inclined, still bring with them, 'sports' which go on in their own countries. Dog fighting, cock fighting and illegal horse 'rodeos' go on constantly. There's more, which I won't go into. It hurts us all badly and I am amazed that our government has not been willing to do more - and years ago. It would have been easy, to send some of our troops to the borders, instead of into wars in which we had no business. I heard on the news a while back, that in 40 years, our border states will likely be nothing more than third world countries. Those of us who live here, have seen it slowly happening. While many are from Mexico, thousands of illegals also come from other S. American countries and just happen to come up through Mexico.
Incidentally, when I first came to this country, I thought it would be nice to visit Mexico. I planned to go, just for the day. I lived in Arizona at the time. It happened to be pouring with rain that day and the streets in Mexico were not paved. It was just a sea of mud, so we turned around and decided to go another time. Lining up at the border to come back into the US, I was asked where I was born. I answered England. The Mexican border guard asked for my passport (which they shouldn't have asked for) and US papers. I had my legal US green card, but it was not enough for them. They immediately took me to jail! Requesting the official in charge that day, they couldn't find him. He was in a bar somewhere. When they eventually found him, he asked how much money we had with us. At the time I think it was $32. He immediately said that was my fine, took the money and let me go. All crooked and illegal of course. I never went back.
Lizzie
