I can't join the webchat as I will be at work, but I hope people drive home the fact that we do not want yet another wave of amnistías. We need to limit immigrants from Mexico (and other countries as well) to manageable enforced quotas. Physical proximity of a 3rd world country to the United States should not be an excuse for allowing illegal aliens to burden our law enforcement, medical and social infrastructures. Any attempt to grant another wave of amnesty must be dealt with as political suicide for any public official or politician who even hints at amnesty as part of a solution. No papers? Deport the felons.

I also hope someone points out during the webchat that the phrase "undocumented worker" is a misnomer for illegal aliens.

Pretty simple, isn't it?

Pick a name and stay with it, apply for a visa and enter the country legally, pay your and your children's way, get a job, pay taxes, don't violate the laws while you're here, apply for citizenship and wait your turn...like everyone else in the world that wants to come here!

Why does this seem like such a difficult set of concepts to grasp? And why is this so different from any other historical emigration from any other country?

Do I have to press 1 for English?

"I doubt if our community is properly represented by the small handful of commenters on this blog."

I disagree. I think the comments posted here represent the community as a whole. I haven't seen much bigotry at all in the comments. Unless you call prejudice against the system bigotry. The negative comments have not been directed towards the illegal immigrants themselves, as much as the system that allows this to happen on such a grand and expensive scale.

Sigma, crawl back under your rock.

The Gazette reporter wants to ask a question then here is one to ask. Why is the United States got the worst track record for handling illegal immigration? Why nothing can be done about illegal immigration? Why is it if the America does anything to stop illegal immigration that Americans are looked at as the bad guys in all this? We spend $111.3 billion dollars a year on illegal immigration to the point where nothing can be done about it. I have no problem with legal immigration, the problem I have are the ones that come here illegal. The problem I have is this the illegal ones get free reign to do whatever they want they even get free handouts from our own government. As an American tax payer I am tired of our money being wasted to fight illegal immigration with no solution to illegal immigration.

Why all the hispanic stuff???? Arnt we an equall nation? Leave it to the media to segregate everyone.

These articles are like putting lipstick on a pig.

smallBIZowner (riiiight), why are businesses hiring illegals in the first place? You folks like to condemn the prostitute while enabling the john and the pimp.

Bassinthumb - you can bet the cost is outrageous. Be sure to included in the total all of the unemployment compensation paid to displaced legal workers whose jobs are currently filled by illegals.

Zoom - I doubt if our community is properly represented by the small handful of commenters on this blog.

If nothing else, the online comments sections in the series shines light on all of the bigoted, self centered people living in the area. Most of those folks avoid anyone in real life who might be different from themselves, so their opinion of the immigration issue is what they hear from the partisan talking heads.

She has done a great job on this series except answering the most important question about "The growth in the Hispanic population" What are all the benefits they get and how much is it costing the taxpayers?

I probably disagree with smallBIZowner but I agree, it's a good thing the Gazette is doing. I'll just have to figure out how to join the conversation.

Anna Marie Lux has added a lot of professionalism, style and credibility to The Janesville Gazette - something that it has lacked for a long time. I can't wait to read her next series - though this will be a hard act to follow.

This is possibly the best series that the gazette has ever run - congrats to Anna Marie Lux and the staff. The subject of the series was not very interesting, but the way in which it was presented and authored was spectacular.