Actually, they weren't immigrants--they had no intention of staying. They were here legally. Then they were given the choice of (a) obeying the law and starving or (b) entering illegally to do the same work they'd done before.
Something seriously lacking in the invaders of today.
As opposed to the reverent awe with which Freepers hold the law when they dislike the content thereof, and law enforcement officers when said LEOs act in ways Freepers find personally distasteful.
Oh I see. Everybody breaks the Law! Where have I heard this type of spin before???