Hi Ali...
You said..”People seem to miss the word illegal”
We have to keep calling the unlawful entrants what they are...ILLEGAL ALIENS...That’s a legal term...
They are not immigrants...immigrants come here LEGALLY...
The term immigrant conjures up the appearance of legality.. and everything pertaining to lawful entrance into our country...
Most people dont know what is included in the requirements for immigration...they dont know that in the provisions of the AMNESTY Bill, the illegal aliens are not required to meet any of the prerequisites mandated by law...
One of the reasons the immigration system is in such a shambles and is so shamelessly exploited by employers, politicians, "advocates" and lawyers is that Americans pay little attention to immigration.
And why should they? If they don't have relatives or friends or whatever going through immigration there is little need for the average citizen to know anything whatsoever about it.
As for your second point, you're right. I walked with my immigrant wife from marriage abroad to her residency and citizenship. I know what she and I both went through, and what it cost in time, money, effort, worry, and careful diligence to meeting the requirements for an immigrant visa.
The illegal alien Z1 visa pool has to do little of what's required from a lawful immigrant. And what little they are required to do is from the comfort and convenience of American soil, not from 4,000 or 8,000 milles away.