Markay, I agree with several things you say. I believe before anything productive can be done we must gain control of our borders. The reason people are not using the work visa program is that it puts them in the legal mainstream and, therefore, responsble to our government and our laws. (Why bother with any beauracratic red tape when you can just walk in, steal someone's identity and and have it all your way.) There needs to be some determination of just how many workers we need and then adjust the visa program to allow for fast access to the appropriate number of people. However, the visa program needs to be severely tightened up so that people who come here to work can not overstay their visa. Once we have a good system for work visas all others must use normal immigration procedures. People who follow normal immigration procedures have an established path to citizenship. People on work visas who want to pursue citizenship must get in line following the normal immigration procedures. I do not believe there should be a separate procedure for people here on work visas. Once we have our borders secured and a viable work visa program, the people who are here illegally must return to their country and apply for the work visa. Anyone who has stolen an American's identity or commited any other crime would not be allowed back. I have no sympathy for those who complain that they had babies here, etc., and that returning to Mexico or wherever is a hardship. I just don't feel we should allow them to place that problem on our shoulders. There should be some unpleasant consequences for breaking our laws. Children born in America to illegal alien parents should not automatically be made citizens.
Again, securing our borders must be done first or nothing can be done to improve this horrible situation.
Regarding Mexico, it is clear to me they are not partners in this illegal immigration fiasco. To hell with them, George Bush and the U.S. Senate. We need people in office who are going to look out for the interests of the American people, not big business, Mexico or whoever else has them under their thumb. (OK, someone ask me how I really feel. )