Does the LAT have any grown-ups who could weigh in instead? First, Amina Khan needs to double-check his/her language, as there are errors in the terms used. Second, Amina Khan is supporting the horrible public policy of making foreign countries dependent on sending people here rather than building up their local economies. I mean, really. It's not too difficult to think these things through, you just need to hire people who care about the truth.

This Reporter is possible the STUPIDEST Person Alive !!!
LINKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TO RECESSION IS A LIBERAL JOKE WE HAVE A POPULATION OF Population: 301,139,947 WITH AN UNEMPLOYMENT 5.1% THAT'S NEARLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY EMPLOYED THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE THE BACK BONE OF THIS COUNTRY NOT ILLEGAL CRIMINALS THAT RUN ACROSS OUR BORDER

I don't care if they are sending money or not!! All illegals must self-deport or be forcibly deported!!

The only "remodeling" needed is to finish
The Fence! Then Carlos Slim the 2nd
richest man in the world(Fortune) just
might start helping his Mexican countrymen
instead of ignoring them!
Mexico is the richest country in Latin America!

How 'bout they use all that extra $$ to pay for their kids healthcare and education, instead of us middle class americans paying for it.

Amina,
My unemployed husband would love to do some remodeling work but has been undercut by illegals earning wages that ensure them continued poverty and dependence upon social services. Is this the kind of society that you want to promote? You need to think this through a little more before you quote NPR (credibility = 0) and insinuate that we are going to suffer because illegal immigrants won't be around to BUY things. Please. Income tax. That's what they need to be contributing. 1/3 of their salary. Then we'll talk.

Worst.
Article.
Ever.

I'd like to know who the idiot is who signs your paycheck..

Worst.
Article.
Ever.

Amazing!! The journalistic superiority of La Times is shown once again!

I am sure there must be a least one foreigner here illegally that can do this reporter's job and far more competently and at half her salary. Amina won't complain, she believes Americans should be put ot of work by lawbreakers.

Carlos Slim isn't the second richest man, he is the richest.

The author of this article apparently doesn't understand the concept that one does not normally go to a country for economic reasons where there is a sliding economy. Thats the difference between citizens and those that cross borders illegally at times for work, the citizens are more likely to continue to stay through the rough times. At least in countries that encourage they do. That is why businesses that are wise, and governments that are wise, make their citizens a priority in part. Because citizens "owe" more to their country, as well their country "owing" more to them.

"immigrants (legal and otherwise) "
Legal, yes; "otherwise", no.
If Amina and the Los Angeles Times ever learn the difference we might have a rational discussion about a very serious problem that is crushing California.

More anti-logic from the LA Times. Why is it liberals always look at issues through a distorted lens? Stop cracking down on ILLEGAL immigration is going to stop them from over running America? Thats just more liberal insanity. I presume that the author of this editorial would rather let a burst water pipe in her home just keep running instead of fixing the leak with the high hopes that the problem will just go away? I sometimes wish the forefathers of this country could rise from the grave, take a long hard look at what liberals have done to this country, and bring back a common sense, realistic, patriotic approach to fixing this country as they did when they wrote the Constitution.

They don't just send money through wire services, there are (at least to Mexico) mail services that carry items or money directly to Mexico. They have a loop and go about once a month making deliveries both ways.
The remittences Americans KNOW about are only about 1/3 of the true remittences that go to Mexico.

Go to any truly ethnic taco stand and you will see notices for mail carriers and their numbers.

how can you stop the flood by legalizing it?

I wish people would stop using the word "liberal" to define these idiots who DO NOT THINK. I have considered myself a liberal since I was able to reason. When you reason, you can see that an economy cannot not withstand millions of people who've slipped over the border. Every social system in our state is overburdened, and budgets are in major crisis. Funds for the poor have been strained to the Nth degree. These people are not liberals, who espouse crowding our own poor with millions more. They are not the ones suffering. It just makes them feel good to quote the politicians (who want votes and support form corporations). There's no thought to it, except to identify with the vestiges of a movement they don't even understand.I have worked with the disenfranchised, and I know the loss of jobs and funds from the overcrowding.
Amina heard something on NPR, and got all excited about writing an article to show those mean old racists how wrong they are. From the look of the comments I think she needs to rethink her stand, if that's possible.

First of all, the immigration debate is a waste of time because liberals and conservatives KNOW they do NOT plan on washing their own cars, cutting their own lawns, picking strawberries, lettuce and potatoes. White Americans only complain about having their tax dollars pay for social services when they see Black people utilizing these services, but with the lazy-assed, stinking Mexican vermin that come across the border, all of a sudden, white people are mum. They have nothing to say when these low-life people get rich off social service benefits. To Whites, as long as Black people do not benefit, they are happy! White people in America are selective when it comes to who they 'hate'! Today it could be 'Blacks' and tomorrow it could be 'Asians'! Maybe not Asians because they want to be 'white' and they kiss white people's asses so they don't mind Asians. This is the ONLY G-8 country that allows illegal immigration! When I lived in Europe, you could NOT gain entry into a country without a passport or military ID! Moreover, you couldn't work without a work visa nor could you rent an apartment. Additonally, the OFFICIAL language was French, if you in France or German or Deutsch if you were in Germany, NOT German AND Spanish! That is total nonsense for the US to do that crap! In Mexico, none of their billboards are in ENGLISH!!!