By Tom Ashbrook.

In scores of cities across the country on Monday, there were big rallies, calling for a legal status for the millions of illegal immigrants in the United States. Eleven, maybe twelve million illegals in all, are in the US. And by far the biggest portion is from Mexico.

The story behind the story of the immigration debate is really about the United States and Mexico, and, some would say, the inexorable convergence of their economies and cultures. No border fence, economists say, can stop it.

But does it really work? For everyone? Mexico is poor. Many Americans are worried.

As the rallies spread, hear about the slow and steady marriage of the USA and Mexico.

Guests:

Maura Reynolds, Congressional correspondent, The Los Angeles Times

Hector Tobar, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and Mexico City Bureau Chief, The Los Angeles Times and author of “Translation Nation: Defining a New American Indentity in the Spanish-Speaking United States”

Jorge Castaneda, former Foreign Minister of Mexico under President Vicente Fox (2000 to 2003) and Professor of Politics and Latin Studies, New York University

Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, former mayor of Mexico City (1997 to 1999) and a three-time presidential candidate

David Molina Professor of Economics and Director of the Center of Inter-American Studies and Research, University of North Texas.