This post was from Sally's view. Myself, I am a first generation American. Escaping the horrors of the Russians, then from Germany my grandmother, father and aunt spent time in a German DP camp. They were able to find a family to host them and pay their boat trip to this country. My grandmother worked for free many years to repay the family. She learned english by watching soap operas. They all got their citizenship and after graduating from Northwestern University my dad met my mom (a girl from the Chicago suburbs) and the rest is history.
I live in Southern California and no one illegal seems to have to earn anything, free housing, food, and medical. You should see the homeless problem. Majority of them, American citizens. Go figure