I have followed the immigration issue closely since 1961.... Read books and papers on it in both English and Spanish. I've rented apartments to over a hundred illegals... and many legal immigrants and citizens as well. I've hired all types to work on my buildings.
I was extremely active in everything anti-Daley in Chicago for many years, which included building coalitions that included many illegals. For many years it was my job to inspect slum buildings and predict which ones would burn down for insurance companies. (Now I do the same on their databases working beside IT workers in a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Interesting how the unskilled are much more open to being honest about it than are the IT workers.)
I've lived with, eaten with, slept with illegals.
my experience is limited to IL and parts of WI,IN,MN, KS,MO,TX. I only know CA by what I read, and hear from legal immigrants, illegals and citizens who have been there.
I often post that immigrant culture is pro-family. To them, to become Americanized ... see movie Spanglish means to adopt the Hollyweird lifestyle of dis-epect of family and government replacing family as the safety net. I've had both illegals and citizens of Hispanic, Asian and European ancestry who have lived in CA tell me that CA tends to attract a slightly different type of Hispanic... one who is more open to becoming Americanized which again, means adopting the Hollyweird lifestyle of dis-respect for family. They associate Chicago with work. California with irresponsible fun.
Its so heart warming to hear how these hispanic immigrants are so disgusted by the idea of becoming an American.