It is ludicrous to pretend that the NYT is creating an issue where there is none
Well see that's the difference. The vast majority of these illegals who crossed the border are not committing violent crimes, unless you think taking a job of cleaning toilets as a crime.
Yes, IMO, they haven't assimilated as fast as other groups before in American history. Why should they when they have a built in "be kept in poverty, always be a victim" infrastructure built by 40 years of liberalism, and the automatic hostility of a reletively small political lobby, who use hyperbole against them as their bread and butter.
Small political lobby ? You mean like taxpayers and home owners ? It is truly laughable to hear open borders "conservatives" oozing "compassion for the downtrodden of Mexico" and denouncing "racism" when what they really want is cheap labor, the social consequences of which are paid for by the American taxpayer.
Selfishness trying to pass itself off as generosity fools no one, particularly when it is everyone else who will pay the cost of your "generosity". For the Democrats this will be a perfect "Republicans only care about rich people who want cheap labor and will let Joe Sixpack pick up the tax bill" issue.