“If folks really want to clean up that problem, the solution lies in electing a county government that doesn’t give away money to illegals.”
Further thoughts, please?
The larger context of my comment is that I think that the real driving force behind illegal immigration lies north of the border: by offering jobs and welfare, Americans are paying those folks to cross the border.
Moreover, I think there are a couple of good reasons why Americans pay folks to cross the border. First, what with taxes, benefits, and expected wages, Americans cost too much to employ. Second, Americans know that they have a choice between back-breaking and/or unpleasant physical labor on the one hand, and a welfare safety net on the other. And thus, from the perspective of American employers, illegal immigrants currently fill a large niche of the American labor pool better than Americans do.
Because the source of the problem lies with Americans, the solution lies there as well.
For example, it is impossible for illegal immigrants to grant themselves welfare payments. Only elected officials can do that. It is an American political problem, in other words ... and that must be dealt with politically.
For the economic part, the only ways to fill the labor niche with Americans rather than illegals, is to make Americans more attractive (i.e., less costly and more willing to accept those jobs), or to make illegals less attractive (i.e., increased likelihood of legal trouble).