Naturalization rates for Mexicans are relatively low, and the rate of intermarriage between Hispanics and other Americans has declined. About one-quarter of all Mexican immigrants haven't learned English. Such numbers only punch a larger hole in the myth that the US has been a quick melting pot of ethnic peoples. But still, the large size and the unique style of Mexican immigration challenges the cultural and political balance of the United States. Mexican immigrants serve many economic purposes, but the illegal kind in particular challenges the national identity and the nation's laws.
Immigration controls only go so far.
Uplifting Mexico's economy is the best solution, but that may take decades. In the meantime, public opinion will fluctuate and Congress will continue to try to find more answers.