we get the feeling that the guards believe everyone who's passing through to visit actually wants to stay
Wendy, this could be part of the issue right there. Because so many people
do want to stay. And there are many who do stay - both legally and illegally - for weeks, months, years. America has been held up in the world's eye as the "land of opportunity" for so many and so long, and there are so many people who lead desperately poverty-stricken or oppressed lives in other countries who would do almost anything to find "the end of the rainbow" in the US. This would certainly influence the thoughts and practices of US Immigration officials, but would have less effect on the thoughts of the average American citizen.
Kathy
