I am not saying that we shouldn't encourage and even make it easier for honest hardworking people to make a better life for themselves in America... I'm just saying that we need to make sure that they do it legally. FLOATING to America on a mattress is an act of desperation, one that is certainly admirable and sad - but it is also extremely dangerous and unsafe for both the floater(s) and every American citizen. As a nation, we need to know who is here and everything that goes along with that type legal classification - are they sick? have they brought Bird Flu? have they smuggled anything illegal (besides themselves), such as dogs (there are a flood of illegal and sickly dogs being smuggled into the US by Mexican puppy mills and sold on the streets in CA)??? what are their intentions - are they simply looking for work and want desperately to become U.S. Citizens - or do they want to blow up the World Trade Center???

There needs to be a system for processing this information and that can only occur within a bonafide legal mechanism. AND we can't encourage people to sidestep the process!!!

As far as the jobs you speak of and taxpayers money, etc.. I'm all for my taxes helping others get a fresh start and assisting others less fortuneate than I. And yes, illegals do often take jobs that others won't - but to encorage this is almost like taking advantage of them - sort of like the sweatshops that you describe. And Forever 21 - I'm not sure what that is exactly... duh???

Anyway, immigration wasn't my only complaint when originally venting!!! I guess I'm just a former GW fan who feels he's made a mistake and now wants to be accountable!!!