Does the ends justify the means?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10081719/
Many U.S. citizens consider homelessness to be a serious problem.
Unemployment rates are too high.
Respect for the law is in serious decline.
Fears and resentment of illegal aliens are leading to racial strife.
And here we have a case that loops these seemingly disparate factors into one situation.
If the homeless could find employment would they then be able to sustain homes? Two problems would be solved if they would fill available jobs.
If all aliens were legal there would be less basis for the resentment many current residents feel against many of our Mexican neighbors and current U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. (note: just as it is my policy to never use the word "Americans" on this site to denote U.S. citizens apart from statements that include ALL Americans...that is, people who live in the Americas...I also refuse to call people "African American" or "Swiss American" or "German American" or "Mexican American". While heritage is important and to be honored, doing it in those ways explicitly differentiates people and brings disunity, something I never perceive of as good.)
Respect for the law has repeatedly declined as we see individuals whom the majority of people believe guilty of felony crimes or worse (O.J. Simpson, Robert Wagner, Bill Clinton, Richard Nixon, and Michael Jackson come readily to mind) have their day in court and walk away unconvicted, this being the case due to money or power rather than truth in the perceptions of many observers, people then fail to understand why they should have respect for the law.
After all, if you can kill some one...allegedly...order people to commit thievery and espionage...allegedly....perjure yourself....allegedly...molest small children...allegedly...and walk away..if cops can ignore roadway regulations, civil rights, etc., allegedly....then why am I any different? Why should I obey any law?
Succesful disobedience, real or perceived, breeds further disobedience and, more important than the action itself, breeds an atmosphere of diobedience to duly constituted authority.
SO in the referenced link we have an artist admitting to aiding and abetting illegal immigrants. Whether I agree with her actions or disagree has no relevance. What is relevant is she is flaunting the law and people know this.
Now, you could make an argument that I would listen to that people trying to get to places where they have jobs waiting should be in this country...and I would tend to agree with that. There are a lot of factors that go into that statement.
THe fact remains that, at the moment, they are breaking the law. And that is causing strife in this country.
I wrote a couple columns ago about Tookie and some of my internal conflict over his situation. I have a similar conflict over this situation. I don't believe these people coming into this country to work are harming it in and of themselves. Also, I tend to think many of them are held back by bureacratic red tape more reminiscent of the efforts to hold out the Jews circa the 1930s than of any real value to our country. But they are still illegal.
And a person trying to make a crime easier to accomplish is not doing a good thing.
The end does not justify the means. If it did we would have quite the difficulty in the Legislature about every time they held a vote.
I am sure she has her supporters and detractors. Count me among the latter even as I wish there was no need for her because we made a better policy on immigration.