Joab,
That is precisely my point. Jorge's stance is tightly tied to his experience as a "legal" immigrant...but as a Cuban who was escaping the revolution...he and his family enjoyed a vastly easier path to citizenship, government aid, english classes, etc. IMHO this makes his "I was legal and you should have to be too," argument a bit duplicitous...because the process by which he and his family became "legal" was much different than the system in place today.
What bothers me the most about this entire immigration "debate" is the fact that it is strictly a diversionary tactic. My premises are as follows:
1) The problem is not the "legality or illegality" of an immigrant's status. The whole "nation of laws" argument is hollow...because as Jefferson suggested...the law is "often but the tyrant's will." Arguably, a law which enjoys such little compliance is broken (sort of like prohibition no?) and needs overhauled.
2) The problem is that our government is perfectly willing to take our money and distribute it carelessly. This angers citizens...and they need a scapegoat...so the immigrants fall into the sights. But it seems to me like you are blaming the wrong party...don't blame the immigrants for playing the game according to the rules (all the rules...not just the "law") that are laid out in front of them.
3) This entire "problem" has the potential to be useful in expanding the breadth and depth of governmental law enforcement in a way that most folks on this board should be very uncomfortable with. Round up and deport some 12 million people? I don't even want to comprehend the kind of law enforcement mechanism that will be put into place to accomplish such a goal.
The people are already here. Many pay taxes via IRS ID numbers, many invest and spend significant amounts of money in the states, and regardless of what might be thought otherwise...many DO fill jobs that would otherwise go unfilled...that is part of the draw to the States in the first place...there is WORK here.
So what is the real problem?
Is everyone angry because these "people" flout the law? Perhaps the law needs fixed..and should focus on ease of entry combined with documentation.
Because they move into neighborhoods that resemble the nations they come from? So? Ever been to the Polish neighborhoods in Chicago, or the Italian neighborhoods in New York?
Because they display the colors of the nations from whence they came? Again....So? Chicago has a monstrous South Side Irish parade every year. What about Columbus Day? etc., etc.
I have a very hard time condemning people for coming to America to do the very thing that almost ALL of our ancestors came here to do.