I don't believe the 12 million number. If there were really 36 million, you can just extrapolate from that, i.e., it would be three times the estimated additional 70 million who would enter legally over a 20 year period. The numbers would be astounding. This points to the major fallacy of all of this. How can the government legalize the status of the illegals without knowing how many are here? It is ludicrous.
One other note: In 1986, despite the fact that in order to apply for amnesty you had to be here for five years, there was a major uptick in illegals entering the USA prior to the amnesty. Fraudulent document centers were set up within blocks of where the government was processing applicants.
I agree and you know where I am on the true number.