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I grew up in Alabama, and still visit on occasion. I was shocked when driving thru Hoover (suburb of Birmingham) at all of the Mexican restaurants. Most have Spanish language text on the signs other than the restaurant name....meaning it markets towards spanish-as-a-primary-language types.

Then, driving by the intersection of Lorna and Patton Chapel, you see dozens of Mexicans waiting for landscaping contractors, movers, construction contractors to swing by and hire them for the day. I'm sure there are other pick-up points, too.

My area (northwest Florida) is going through a condo and house building boom. The majority of construction workers I see are Mexican, too. These should be good paying jobs for american workers. While I can't swear that they aren't US citizens....I think we all know what is happening.

I don't blame the Mexican workers - they are working their butts off, doing a great job for very low wages. ...If I were in their shoes, I'd probably do the same thing. But it is our elected leader's job to secure the borders and protect jobs for American workers who will turn around and spend the money here in the USA.

I remember the first time I was in Walmart and heard, "Jose Gonzales, your vehicle is ready in the Walmart Tire Center." Sounded odd to my ears, but now it's commonplace.

Hubby and I own a business, and we've only had one hispanic worker. Now our crew consists of a son and son-in-law.

But re: sending the $$ back home, we purchase all our inventory from a company in B'ham, and one of their employees does just that -- he works here most of the year, and supports his wife and 7 children and his parents in Mexico with what he makes in Birmingham. He's got a green card, so it's not just illegals which have this practice.