USA, Canada /
American people attitude towards Poles in the USA [98]
I think most of the Mexicans in the U.S. illegally are here to work hard and earn and honest living. However, they generally aren't well educated, aren't skilled tradesmen ( there are only so many dry-wall crews ), have no grasp of English, and as a result, they are limited to low wage jobs. Unlike 50-75 years ago, the mills are no longer hiring anyone with a strong back. So, they end up as " wards of the state " in a sense, because they have limited options. This is compounded by their sheer numbers. Their mass overwhelms any built in, community type safety nets.
The Poles on the other hand have several things going for them. The Poles that come to the U.S., legal or otherwise, tend to be well educated. A lot of them are skilled tradesmen. The younger ones, say under 25, can speak a little English. Finally, a policy much despised by members of this forum, may actually help the Poles. U.S. immigration policy, combined with distance, keeps the number of Polish immigrants relatively low. If a Pole is going to stay here illegally, usually by overstaying a tourist visa, it isn't on a whim. A Polish person has to have some means to get a visa to come to the U.S., as opposed to the Mexican, who can cross the border in total poverty. There is probably a job lined up. There's a place to stay. There's a community network of people that will help out their countrymen, and that network won't get overwhemed by numbers.
