What are some of the key causes/factors of illegal immigration?

they are coming to this country to try to make a better life for themselves and their families.

First - you have to realize that there are illegal immigrants here from all over the world - not just Mexico

Second - not all Hispanic illegal immigrants coming from the southern border are Mexican.

Once that is understood we have to look at the history of immigration to and from the US - during the depression many states illegally deported US citizens of Hispanic and other non-European descendants. This has never been addressed by the US. Many then citizens lost the very proof they are now required to have for citizenship.

The next thing is to really look at the reason many people immigrate to the US - it is usually US involvement in a foreign country - "Democracy" comes with a price - look at all the wars since this country became the USA in 1776 - and you'll find an increase in the nationality of the country that the USA is trying to change. We have historically allowed only so few Visa's to those who have helped the cause of spreading "democracy" while leaving behind many more - just last week the US announced an increase in the visa's issued to Iraqis who are now fleeing Iraq due to the USA's promotion of Democracy there.

The soldiers are in Iraq not guarding our territory=open borders.

Politicians pandering to large voting group, including those who shouldn't be voting. When the other/legal/American voters demand restrictions etc. the feds and courts over turn it. They confuse legal rights with human rights.

The habit of immigrating rather than solving problems internally. Employers charging by the job want to get the job done quick and fast and move on to the next job. They hire twice as many illegals for half the pay and make a higher profit for themselves and upper management. They also avoid taxes.

Text books in Mexico and the US in Spanish which teach that the US stole the southwest...and teach it as though this just happened and must be avenged.

Note that I didn't count poverty,etc as that is not a reason to immigrate but a reason to change things at home. We have that too.

So in other words the people in charge are doing a lousy job and allowing unfair illegal competition and propaganda to get more power and money.

Condemning the frightened working-class white guys organizing citizens' militias along our southern border, or vilifying those who listen to Limbaugh and are convinced that "liberals" are in some sort of collective plot to undermine America may feel good, but it doesn't address the real problem. Progressives will be most effective when we reach across the divides created by Bush, Specter, et al, and point out how this is really all about corporate conservative efforts to replace the American middle class with a workforce of "working poor" Americans and powerless illegal immigrants (or powerless "amnestied" workers) - all so CEOs can fatten their paychecks and further reward the "conservative" investor class.

Only then will Mexico and other countries to our south have an incentive to get their own houses in order, and will our middle class begin to recover decent bargaining power and the living wages that accompany it.

Global Capitalism and War are the key factors at play here.

These are NOT simply people escaping poverty in the third world. That is a simple minded myth. Poverty existed in South America long before the immigration surge in the mid 80's into today.

Look at migrant sending countries such as South America, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and from Asia such as the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore. We experience immigration surges from these areas during times of either foreign direct investment or military invasion.

I am against illegal immigration, period! Whether they are illegals that just crossed the border or illegals that have been here for 20 years--THEY ARE STILL ILLEGAL and if they are ILLEGAL, they are CRIMINALS for breaking our laws. The only resolution is to arrest, deport, stop the benefits, and militarize our border from this senseless invasion. They came here illegally and decided to raise a family so they can jump into the free chow line? Come here legally and do it the right way OR deport the whole family. Sounds too heartless to the bleeding hearts out there? Not really when you stop to realize that illegals today are getting more free benefits paid by our taxpayers than millions of poor, disabled American citizens that will never get the same benefits from our government! There are many hard working American middle class and low income working taxpayers (many work 2 jobs) that go to bed hungry, don't have proper housing, have no health care, can't afford medications for their illnesses and have no hopes of affording a good education, but the illegals do! That to me is not only heartless, but despicable. America needs to STOP handing out incentives (freebies) and allowing employment for these criminals, by doing whatever deems necessary to: STOP employers from hiring illegals STOP the anchor baby BS STOP the subsidized housing STOP the welfare and food stamps STOP the free healthcare STOP the free education This illegal alien invasion is truly a form of "terrorism" that is bound and determined to deteriorate our country's infrastructure. How? It has resulted in consistently overburdening our schools, hospitals, welfare programs, unemployment programs, social security programs, our security & police forces due to the increase in crime (murders, assaults, drug trafficking, identity theft, drunk driving, uninsured motorists, unlicensed motorists, hit & run accidents), overcrowded our prison facilities, just to name a few. Arizona. I'm old enough to remember the quality of life in America before the illegal invasion; and young enough to fight this form of terrorism right here on America's soil!

Lack of enforcement.

When there is no penalty being enforced, where is the incentive to not break the law?

Non enforcement of the laws on those that hire illegals. Even when they are found to be breaking the laws, the penalties are not in line with the crime that they have committed nor the injustice that they have done to the citizens of the United States. Americans are more than willing to work as has been proven by the recent long lines of those seeking employment after raids by I.C.E.

Mexico just refuses to change it's practices it allows deep corruption to continue. It separates the rich-the middle class-poor."The trouble with government as it is," that it doesn't represent the people. It controls them. All they seem to want to do - the people who run the country - is keep themselves in power .The motto seems to be: 'Keep the people happy with a few (cigarettes) and beer and they won't ask any questions.' I always wondered what it was about politics and government that was wrong.I just know there's something wrong with the present way of governing in Mexico, and when the illegals realize it, at least they are on the way to changing it.

For the people who say that poverty is not a good enough reason to immigrate I ask this. What if your children don't have enough to eat, today. You could press for change in the government and policies and work for improved conditions months or years in the future but your children are still hungry today. You know that if you can sneak across the border you might get a job that pays more than what you are getting and you can feed your children, today.

I'm not justifying their actions. What I am saying is try to have a little compassion. Most illegals aren't coming here to hurt you. They're coming because they feel they have no other choice. If you want to vent your anger, vent it on the business and government that makes sneaking across the border worth the trip.

Everything south of the Rio Grande is run by a dozen mafia families in a manner to serve them and their elite goons. The average person, from Mexico south, lives in horrible conditions. Risking it to come to the United States seems better to them than living where they're at.

nothing ever happens in government its always planned. Look out its part of the new world order a way to get rid of the middle class.