,
             Peco, Presidio and Rio Del) (Andrews and Knack, 1997). Of this number,
             916,000 individuals were legal arrivals, while over 275,000 illegal
             immigrants also immigrated to these same regions (Andrews and Knack, 1997).
             Though immigration limitations have been set and a crack down on
             illegal immigration has followed suit, it has been recognized that illegal
             immigration is a definable issue, and has impacted the development and
             stability of Hispanic communities in states like Texas.
                 It is necessary to recognize that many of the
             individuals comprising the Hispanic communities in cities of West Texas were
             not primarily the product of illegal immigration. The immigration
             history of the United States suggests two primary influxes of Hispanic
             populations during periods of legal immigration. In 1965, for example, the
             Immigration and Nationality Act removed federal limits on new
             immigration and allowed a greater number of relatives of current citizens to
             enter the United States (Andrews and Knack, 1997). In 1986, the government
             opened the system for people who had illegally settled in the United
             States, increasing the number of once-illegal immigrants who became
             American citizens (and then were able to sponsor the immigration of
             additional family members) (Andrews and Knack, 1997). The base of illegal
             immigrants who came to the United States because of the availability of
             migrant farm work since the turn of the century, the amnesty program th!
             at allowed them to attain citizenship, and the secondary introduction
             of family members defined a large segment of the Hispanic community.
                 In addition to a largely stable Hispanic American
             community in regions of the state of Texas, there is also a definable
             segment of the Hispanic community comprised of illegal immigrants, some of
             whom have connections to the community and others who define both
             cultural and soci...