>And it does not really matter if they entered U.S. with a tourist visa 10 years ago or just crossed the border in desert. From a legal context, yes actually,

>And it does not really matter if they entered U.S. with a tourist visa 10 years ago or just crossed the border in desert. From a legal context, yes actually, these facts make all the difference in the world in terms of relief one is entitled to under the law. So for example, if someone is in the US as a unaccompanied minor - just another "illegal immigrant" to you, all of them being the same and what not - whether they just got here or have been here 10 years lawfully on a tourist Visa, under the law they would be eligible for a Special J Visa which would lead a pathway of citizenship. Or as occurs regularly in Miami, where I practice law, there are tens of thousands undocumented immigrants - "illegal immigrants" according to you - but they may be eligible for immigration relief because of the Cuban Adjustment Act (Wet Feet, Dry Feet Policy). I think you make the point yourself, that acts themselves are illegal...not people.