There are many people who have paid the fee and filed the papers to become resident aliens (and eventually American citizens) , and they are waiting over eight years for this to happen, and the waiting period keeps growing.
However, the people coming here illegally get to stay here, as well as get government assistance. My aunt is one of those people who has been waiting for a long time to become a legal resident alien of this country. It is frustrating that she has to keep waiting while these other people, who are coming illegally, get to come to the United States and remain.
This shows that you shouldn't waste your money or time to do it right.