Reliable workers are available for: House cleaning, yard work, moving, painting, plumbing, construction, carpentry, leafleting, child care, elder care, dog walking and odd jobs -- according to Yelp.

I understand this by no means is a full picture and the whole story, but a parody... Funny, nonetheless!

If you cross the North Korean border illegally, you get 12 years hard labor.
If you cross the Iranian border illegally, you are detained indefinitely.
If you cross the Afghan border illegally, you get shot.
If you cross the Saudi Arabian border illegally, you will be jailed.
If you cross the Chinese border illegally, you may never be heard from again.
If you cross the Venezuelan border illegally, you will be branded a spy and your fate will be sealed.
If you cross the Mexican border illegally, you will be jailed for two years.
If you cross the Cuban border illegally, you will be thrown into political prison to rot.

If you cross the United States border illegally, you get:
1 - A job
2 - A driver's license
3 - A Social Security card
4 - Welfare
5 - Food stamps
6 - Credit cards
7 - Subsidized rent or a loan to buy a house
8 - Free education
9 - Free health care
10 - A lobbyist in Washington
11 - Billions of dollars in public documents printed in your language
12 - Millions of servicemen and women who are willing to – and do – die for your right to the ways and means of our constitution
13 - And the right to carry the flag of your country – the one you walked out on – while you call America racist and protest that you don't get enough respect

John - well said...

"Born into a North Carolina family with a rich history of farming"

Is this the same North Carolina with the rich history of slavery? How much in payroll taxes does Mr. Black pay? Does he offer health insurance as well, or is the rest of the public expected to pick up the bill for that?

"He, his wife and their three children cram into one bedroom of a two-bedroom Mountain View apartment that they share with two others."

I'd like to see the sublease agreement. Where is the city code inspector, the health department, child protective services... ?

"In Mexico, you need much more for this kind of life."

So come here and take it for free and break all the laws while you are at it. Mr. Black will help you and send some one else the bill.

Ah yes, the never seen side of Mountain View. As long as we get our cheap labor.

And a substitute teacher in Mountain View makes less than $100 after taxes, so I'm sure those on the substitute teaching waiting list would be glad for the work.

I agree with John, well said.

I am so tired of the glorification of illegal aliens.

Anyone who is not a descendant of immigrants would you please stand up. Mt family's been in CA for 12 generations and welcomed all of you who are now spitting on people just like your grandparents and great grandparents. And they were immigrants when they came...

If you can't tolerate others families just like your family please go home and see if you miss your freedom of speech, access to jobs, education, libraries, government, pretty good roads, available food, etc....Maybe you will remember why your family left in the first place.

Twelve generations ago California was governed by Spanish Imperial law that didn't take kindly to illegal immigrants either. Spanish imperial law is based on Roman Law which didn't treat foreigners well at all. Study your history. California has not been a wild, lawless frontier for many centuries. Your freedom of speech, access to jobs, education, libraries, government, pretty good roads, available food, etc., is all based on the codification of laws, albeit the U.S. system is based more on English common law. We can only be thankful that the legacy of Spanish Imperial law is mostly found south of the border where you don't readily find these freedoms you speak of. So, I guess I miss your point. And please don't call me a rascist. I'm a legalist having recognized the hypocritical nature of humans.

"Quit joking me, man," he snaps. "Where are you going to find someone to do these jobs?"

In fact, Black prefers hiring labor from the center over other "mow, blow and go" landscaping services, because, as he puts it, "that's all they do -- mow, blow and go."

The issue appears to be that the (illegal) immigrant day workers are undercutting the local (legal) labor force, aided and abetted by people like Black.

"He says living in those conditions is worthwhile, considering the alternative back in Cuernavaca. He and his wife together make about $500 during a good week, but that is still more than they might expect to make in a month where they came from."

Understatement of the day.

The minimum wage in Mexico is approximately 60 pesos ($5) a day.