I understand a little Spanish. I've had my roofing replaced, my siding replaced with Hardy planks, my foundation jacked up with piles installed, and the recent landscape work. Of all four crews, there was only one American kid. We know it's hard and hot work so we make sure that they have plenty of ice and ice water. They bring their own but the ice is usually melted by mid-day. We also set out chairs so they can sit during lunch. A little kindness goes a long way. Other than the Foreman, very few of the workers spoke English and I was fine with that.I have no objection to Mexicans coming to the USA to work. They will do jobs that most Americans won't do and the Mexicans make a lot more money than they could back home. However, when they are in the US, they must follow our laws, and if working directly with Americans, they should speak English. I think there should be a path for them to work toward citizenship, which would require that they pay income taxes and speak English. New citizens should NOT be able to receive any form of welfare until two years after they start paying taxes.I think some Americans expect Mexicans to be able to speak English as soon as they cross the border. It takes time to learn another laguage. I was in a Mexican restaurant and two elderly women were at the next table. The waiter had a trainee working with him. The two old hags started interrogating the trainee on his English. He was obviously trying hard but they scolded him about "you need to know English if you are going to work here". When he came to our table, I apologized to him for their rudeness and encouraged him to keep working on his English.My wife's uncle is a farmer in NE Louisiana. Farmers could not harvest their crops without migrant workers, which most of them are Mexican. Farmers can't get American workers to do the work. The work is too hard and/or doesn't pay enough. Our Welfare system pays too much.  
otential workers would rather sit on their butts and get Welfare instead of working.Mexico is our neighbor. As long as workers can make more money here, there will be people trying to better their lives by coming here. Congress needs to understand these things and allow for Mexican workers. There should also be a path for citizenship that carries all of the same burdens that citizens have ( paying taxes, following laws, etc). Congress also needs to overhaul Welfare so that people will WANT to work instead of living on Welfare. Welfare should be just enough to keep people alive and should be limited as to how long a person can receive it. I like a limit of one year. Then you would have to work and pay taxes for ten years before you qualify for another year of Welfare.I didn't comment on the other thread because it went downhill in the original post. Illegal immigration needs to be discussed in a logical, not emotional, manner. 4951