Abstract
One of the most pressing issues of the United States as a whole is that of illegal immigration stemming primarily from Mexico and other South American countries. America is a country built on immigration, then why would Mexican immigration be such a volatile issue of the day? This is due to issues which are both subtle and conspicuous. The wave of illegal immigration has had an impact on all states, however some are more greatly affected than others. Due to its proximity to the Mexican border, California is uniquely qualified to be the primary example of illegal immigration in the United States of America. T.C. Boyle's Tortilla Curtain offers a more intricate view of the various impacts of the illegal immigration issue. There is a tapestry presented in The Tortilla Curtain that weaves together the social consequences and issues of assimilation which are central to the current immigration landscape in the U.S.
