There aren't as many legal immigrants than there are illegal immigrants. There are about twelve million illegal immigrants in United States right now. Most people who cross illegally come because they need to escape a problem or really need a job. Usually when immigrants aren't in a hurry they go the legal way. Some of the main reasons people leave their home country is maybe they don't like their government, or they might want to escape some financial problems. Also about thirty percent of illegal immigrants actually came to the United States legally, but then stayed past when they were allowed to and are now illegal. That's why there are more illegal than legal immigrants in the United States of America .