Illegal Immigration In California - A Study In Contradictions

By Maureen Cavanaugh, Pat Finn. July 21, 2010. KPBS.

Call them what you will - unauthorized , illegal, or undocumented - the three million immigrants in California who either entered the U.S. illegally or overstayed their visas have an impact on the state's economy and a polarizing effect on its politics. We explore the costs of illegal immigration on business, government, and the children of those who are deported, and we look at why illegal immigrants continue to find their way north in spite of formidable obstacles.

MAUREEN CAVANAUGH (Host): I'm Maureen Cavanaugh, and you're listening to These Days on KPBS. We've been hearing quite a lot lately about illegal immigration as part of a national debate. The new law in Arizona that requires police to check the legal status of suspects is apparently widely popular across the country. But here in San Diego, migrant workers and the people and businesses who hire them are not abstract concepts. They are our neighbors. As an example of how closely the immigration issue affects lives in our community, a number of KPBS reporters have interviewed local officials, academics, politicians, legal residents, undocumented workers and their families. They've assembled some compelling stories that help explain the complex relationship people on both sides of the border have come to share. Their reports are part of the KPBS Envision series called "Crossing The Line: Border Stories." I’d like to introduce my guests, KPBS reporters Amy Isackson, Alison St John and Joanne Faryon. Good morning, ladies. Thank you for being here.

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Posted by Kathy Vega.