I´m neither American nor Korean, moreover, I come from a country illegal immigrants are a marginal phenomenon as most of them are trying to get to Germany and beyond, Poland being a short stop on the way; yet I believe both of you have a point. I´m sure the US system of handling illegal immigrants is far from perfect, incidents like those Alameda quoted do happen, but I bet they constitute a tiny percentage of all illegal immigrant cases.

I wonder if any country has a flawless system.

As for IDs, I remember during communism every citizen had to carry an ID with him/her. Are they really that expensive in the US? In Poland they cost peanuts

"I wonder if any country has a flawless system. "I don´t think so...but we can try to find and work to find one...

You are right.....there is a big debate regarding a national ID here.  If national IDs are to be instituted, then I think they should be provided free of charge.  If you are fairly well to do, it´s hard to imagine how things are for poor people.  Imagine someone just barely getting by, then imagine what an extra burden paying $50-$100 for an ID per person would be.  What about a family, say of 4....or more?  Being born at home, or not in an official hospital can also present problems in getting a birth certificate.

BTW I don´t support illegal immigration, but it seems many who do come here to work are horribly exploited with cheap (or often times not even given their wages) are more victims than criminals.  In some ways, one has to almost admire the hardships they go through just to get a chance to be here and work. 

In New York about 15 years ago there was live coverage of a ship that had an accident close to shore.  There were hundreds of Chinese swimming trying to get ashore.  The looks on their faces were so desparate.  I´ll never forget those faces.

I think it´s the consumers who want cheap prices, the bosses who don´t want (or can´t) to pay liveable wages who should share the brunt of the criticism.  Much of my criticism goes to the consumers who want things cheap. 

I come from a family of tailors, and am trained in that field myself.  I know what goes into some of the cheap items one sees around now, particularly in places like, but not limited, to Walmart.  There is no way the people doing the work can be being paid honest wages.  They are disposable garments. Trash in my opinion.  Most of them don´t even fit and they fall apart fast.

One time a co-worker had an item where the elastic in the waist band of her skirt was twisted.  I fixed it for her by manually twisting it. It happened several times so I told her she should have the waistband taken off and reapplied.  She asked me what that would cost.  I figured to take the waistband off and reapply it would be at least an hour job.  She told me she only paid $5 for the item. 

It just seems to me that there should be some way to determine one´s right to be in a place without carrying them off to a detention center in a big rush.  With the recent hysteria over illegals things have gotten out of control. 

I also think maybe we need to rethink the price we pay for things.  Then, what about the cost of imported items.....manufactured for pennies and sold here for mega bucks?  Made to fall apart so we can buy again? You have no doubt heard about the scandals regarding lead in childrens toys, melamine in pet food....infant formula....and the list goes on. 

2008 Chinese milk scandal

 I´m with you Teas. I completely understand that you are annoyed when critisized for things in the US but hear no disaaprval when same things happen elsewhere. I know the feeling, it´s the same here.

Of course the plight of the two journalists is tragic. The State Department is doing intense negeotiations and study on the issue.  Did anyone say N Korea is a paragon of  "Human Rights".  I don´t believe they even make any claims to that effect, do they?  Those two ladies are pawns in a deadly game.  I truly hope they are freed ASAP.

 Actually... if you had not brought inaccurate information regarding the way the US treats illegal immigrants; it would not have been discussed.  In fact, the first sentence of your post brings the US treatment of illegal immigrants into the discussion.