High-profile commentators like Lou Dobbs have led this particular charge, pointing the finger of blame at illegal immigrants for a host of problems, including overtaxing our health-care system, undermining the English language and regularly forgetting to water the hydrangea bushes beside the pool house.

Of course, the anti-immigration sentiment is not directed at all foreign countries. Most of the heat is directed at Mexican immigrants, which is why so few anti-immigration protesters call for an end to, say, Swahili classes in our schools, or demand that Swedish immigrants at IKEA stop stealing jobs from American designers of affordable, modular furniture.