I live in a state with many immigrants. I sometimes know those who are illegal. I've tried to not ever hire illegal immigrants because I know the consequences to me could be huge. I don't expect INS to go after the large contractors, hotel chains, and WalMarts but they do go after individuals. Still, I know many illegal immigrants and I know how difficult, no impossible, it is for them to gain visas and legal entry.

One person I know well fled a Latin American country during their civil war. Her family left in fear of their lives because they were on the wrong side of junta. They didn't have time to wait for papers but just came and started working. They applied for visas through a lawyer who didn't file them correctly. Recently they found this out and tried to get the papers refiled. Now their home country is stable so the INS is claiming they can't stay. During the past twenty years, they've worked, paid taxes, bought a house, and their children are now working. Their children do not remember their homeland but all may be sent back at any time. They may not have time to sell their house before being sent back. They still fear what will happen to them back home since in their view they are still in danger.

Another person is an illegal immigrant from Europe. They don't fear being sent back because the INS rarely send professionals back who are illegal immigrants. They've been told by well paid and connected lawyers that they may have to pay a fine, if anything. Employers don't ask them for immigration papers because noone suspects they are here illegally since they are white.

I wish we had a system that allowed workers to enter this country legally. The current system is broken and very corrupt. I haven't heard many good outcomes from anyone who becomes entangled with the INS. My state relies on immigrants and it's one of the many reasons I love my state.