[beezdotcom]

If they're assimilating, then is that better?

Assimilation would at least make the problem more palatable, and reduce some of the cultural hostility. Unfortunately, I see much evidence that assimilation is pretty low on the priority list for many illegals - especially when our government seems to bend over backwards to make it easy to NOT assimilate.

[worst-case scenario]

Actually, illegal immigrants have every reason not to assimilate. If you're living here illegally, the last thing you want is to attract attention in the "legal" community. You're going to stick to the neighborhoods where people speak your language - Spanish, Nahuatl, Maya. (You'll rely on your kids, going to the public school, to translate for you.) You're going to keep on the down-low - don't report that fire-code violation which places the house you and 43 other people are renting, and which will ignite your neighbors' homes when yours burns down. You'll buy a forged drivers' license and not take the driving test. (The rules of the road are the same in every country, right?) There are a lot of costs to America that aren't calculated into this problem.

[sam_paine]

Unfortunately, I see much evidence that assimilation is pretty low on the priority list for many illegals -

Interesting. I see the opposite. I see guys standing around, not at the unemployment house, but at the Home Depot begging to get a chance to dig a ditch, (and not demanding a "living wage"). I'm not sure that I want immigrants (illegal or else) to absorb ALL of what American slothful culture has become.