I think most of the Mexicans in the U.S. illegally are here to work hard and earn and honest living.
I volunteered for an organization that gave free English lessons to immigrants and refugees regardless of their status (legal/illegal) and RARELY did any Latinos/as show up - they'd sign up but not show up. The fact is (at least from my experience) they 1. don't want to learn English but think all Americans should have to learn Spanish and 2. they don't want to work legally because they would have to pay taxes and this means less money to send back home.
Unlike 50-75 years ago, the mills are no longer hiring anyone with a strong back.
These things vary a bit from state to state but in my state (Minnesota) they can't receive ANY welfare without a Social Security number which is the ever-sought-after green card. They still manage to get welfare here though, thanks to false documents and people who have died and people who have returned to their native countries giving or selling their documents.
The Poles on the other hand have several things going for them.
Does all that really matter?
At the end of the day, I hate all illegal immigrants - in every country around the world (including idiot Americans that sit in other countries teaching English illegally, taking work away from the nationals of the country)! I don't see why people can't go through the proper channels and enter legally, other than they're criminals or have lied on their applications about something and were caught. I know the problems illegal immigration causes here and I have heard from Poles about the problems of illegal immigration by Ukrainians in Poland so I'm sure Poles on reading thread can understand both sides of the issue.
But I can honestly say that I have never heard about problems with illegal immigrants in Mexico. =)
All that aside, I think Poles are great contributors to all of western societies and I don't understand why the US government is so tight with their visas.
Why are they so tight with them?