What is pulling illegal aliens into the U.S.

I was recently asked my thoughts on what effect the current 'horrible' economy would have on the flow of illegal aliens.
The question that got me is,
"Would the 'fall of our blatant consumerism' and the reduction of our freedoms cause the flow of illegal aliens to decrease?"
Well, I believe 'consumerism' has nothing to do with the flow of illegals aliens.

People come to this coountry for one reason - OUR FREEDOMS!!
The freedom to have a 'CHANCE' and the 'OPPORTUNITY' to succeed; or fail. But a freedom that exists in absolutely NO OTHER PART OF THE WORLD. Including western Europe!

The United States of America is the ONLY country on the planet that has people literally dying to get in!
In the United States of America, you are free, absolutely, to achieve what ever you can. Here it does not matter what color you are, what ethnicity (like it does in Europe!), what religion, what 'class' you came from or anything!In this country if you educate yourself, work diligently and strive, you can achieve a lifestyle and standard not possible in most of the world.

Some actual facts to remember. Most of the world shits outside!! And doesnt have clean drinking water. I am not kidding here.

Some facts on the American 'poor':

In America, we consider a family of four "poor" if its annual income falls below $21,203. And we actually undercount income — ignoring assets accumulated in prior years and disregarding non-cash welfare, such as taxpayer-funded education, lunch programs, health care, food stamps and subsidies for public housing. Only 6 percent of poor households, according to The Heritage Foundation, are overcrowded — meaning more than one person per room. More than two-thirds of "poor" Americans live in housing with more than two rooms per person. And 43 percent of America's poor households own their own homes — and the average poor person's home has three bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathrooms, a garage and a porch or a patio.

"Overall," writes Heritage, "the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family's essential needs. While this individual's life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, liberal activists, and politicians."

"Nearly three-quarters of poor U.S. households own a car," says the study, "31 percent own two or more cars. Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions. Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception. Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher."

In 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population — rich and poor — lived with air conditioning, while today 80 percent of poor households have air conditioning. The average poor American has more living space than the average citizen — of all income levels — living in many cities throughout Europe, including Paris, London, Vienna and Athens.

Right now, our economy is in a recession of unknown duration, with rising unemployment and vast economic anxiety. But we live here, in America — a country of vast prosperity, freedom of choice, and a control over our own destinies that much of the world simply finds breathtaking.

Just some food for thought for those who wake up everyday in this wonderous land without the grattitude they should have.
Peace.