>”Crossing the border without authorization is only a misdemeanor.” It’s not just the act of crossing, it’s staying and taking up residence without authorizati

>”Crossing the border without authorization is only a misdemeanor.” It’s not just the act of crossing, it’s staying and taking up residence without authorization. “Illegal” refers to the fact that they broke the laws around immigration, naturalization, and citizenship. As for your speeding/jaywalking example a more apt comparison would be a driver who never acquired their license in the first place, or one who drives with an expired license.