This from today's Opinion in the DT: http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20080110/OP01/148667238/-1/OP

While no breakdown is available on how many of the immigrants are illegal, it is quite obvious that many do not have a green card which would mean they are here legally and employed nor are they in the normal channel to obtain U.S. citizenship or here as a visitor on a legal visa.

It is obvious to me that there is little understanding as to why South and Central Americans come here. Immigrants from Mexico do not come to Tennessee to live out their lives. They come to work. Their desire is to provide for something or someone at home in Mexico. This is changing as the border tightens. Now they will pay to get their families across because it is too hard for them to cross to work for a few months or a year, return home to their families, and then return to the US to work a while more. Most would stay in Mexico if they could make a decent living there. No one has ever told me they wanted to leave their homeland to come here where they know they will be discriminated against and unwanted. They come out of need. We don't have that extreme need so most don't understand. It is out of the realm of our reality. Not every hispanic who comes to Tennessee will stay here. Most will work a while and then go home. If jobs aren't available they will move on. Not all want to become US citizens. They want to WORK to make enough money to support their families. Charge a fee for the damn classes and shut up already!