Over the past months I have read over and over again that Mexico's illegal border bounders send back $9Billion from the US to Mexico. Classic case of going from a Mexican Standoff on the issue, to an arrangement for a mordida to start handling the problem on the Mexican side of the border. These endless stories of the money Mexico makes off its overseas working poor could be just the well-orchestrated beginnings of a deal.
This post says "70% of Americans object to illegal immigration" I don't believe it. I think 60% of Americans don't give a rat's patoot about it (or anything else, for that matter)and won't, until they lose their job. Or, what is more likely, they wake up enough to see their children's future harmed.
Even in California, swamped to the gunwales with Mexicans, illegal immigration isn't even on the radar in the biggest news story in the country, Schwarznegger vs. Davis. MeCHA-member Bustamante even has the goddammed gall to say that if "he gets all the immigrant vote" he'll win!
As far as the immigrant backlash factor goes, surely you have noticed that the average NASCAR-brained among our fellow citizens think all foreigners are (a) alike, and (b) are from something or somewhere like Mexico. The immigration issue is discussed among a minority group in America: the intelligent wing of the Republican Party. Unfortunately, on this issue that includes none of the party leadership.