also, related to this statement:"Some of the families had been living in Canada for several years and many had already bought houses there."
my question is this, how can an illegal buy property?
"Spanish-language radio stations carry ads for furniture on credit, with "no social" necessary. Banks, including Banco Popular and now Citibank, have started programs that allow illegal immigrants to buy homes by using an identifier issued by the IRS, known as the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number."
"The most common account for illegal immigrants uses a document issued by the Mexican government, known as the "matricula consular." As of last year, 29 banks in Texas allowed immigrants to open bank accounts with a matricula, a study by the Appleseed Foundation found."
" Even before banks offered mortgages, illegal immigrants found ways to buy homes. Some used programs such as contract-for-deed, in which a lender retains title to the property until it is paid off. Others would find a relative with a valid Social Security number and use their name, said Oscar Gonzalez, a local consultant and Realtor. Both of these strategies involved major risks."