The linoleum floor is checkered black and white. Florescent lights in the high ceiling brightly illuminate the shop. There is one barber, Tan, the owner, but there are eight barber stations. These empty stations are an eloquent statement of Tan's belief in the growth of his new small business. In some states that are wrestling with immense numbers of recent illegal immigrants, there is a large measure of resentment.
Schools are overcrowded, medical facilities are strained, and other social services are overwhelmed.
In some areas, the large influx of immigrants not only threatens the budgets of local governments, but causes public anxiety about the culture. While a spicing of different cultures is enriching, people do not like feeling like strangers in their own land. There is no doubt that United States must control its borders and limit illegal immigration. America has enormous capacity to absorb and enrich itself with new immigrants. However, the real problem with illegal immigration is not that these immigrants will not be absorbed.