Illegals themselves put in more than they take out. However, it is their children that are costing the taxpayers.
See post #26. Most illegals come here intending to earn their own way but too often their plans don't pan out. When that occurs they find we have a virtual charity industry eager to "help" them at taxpayer expense, legal aid designed to help them avoid deportation and preposterous laws that assure free emergency health care and education for their offspring.
What is lacking is any incentive to return to their home countries. The bishop is correct when he pointed out that these trade agreements have nothing to offer the underclass of poor Latin American countries - any fool has but to look at Mexico to witness how NAFTA helped "all boats rise" there.
We're already floating over 10% of Mexico's former population. Are you prepared to accept an even larger inundation from the poorer nations below it?