On the border of madness

Immigration: To be free, illegal immigrants must be caught; to find jobs, they must pay | John Dawson

McALLEN, Texas— If Gulf Coast Americans had Hurricane Katrina, Central Americans had Hurricane Stan. Though just a footnote to many during the record-breaking hurricane season, Stan spun ashore on the Yucatan Peninsula on Oct. 4, causing massive mudslides and flooding, killing more than 1,000, and destroying tens of thousands of homes, businesses, ranches, and farms.

Against that backdrop William Jovani Rivas Sanchez and three of his closest friends came to America. "The hurricane destroyed all the jobs," he said. "I'm the oldest in my family. I have to find a way to find money." To that end, Mr. Sanchez and his three friends spent just more than a month and thousands of dollars to come to the United States to earn money for their families back home.