Is a kid who came here as a toddler with a parent a bad apple? Should he/she be punished for the sins of the parent?
Like it or not, if we're serious about fixing immigration we need to address those already here. I have no stomach for a "deportation force" to find and remove all 12 million who merely crossed the border illegally. That's a COLOSSAL waste of resources and tax dollars. Those who should be deported are those who committed real crimes - felonies, drug dealing, etc. And those who are here because their parents brought them here? Why not cut them a break if they've kept their noses clean?
Here's your previous communication:
I agree that illegal immigrants that have committed crimes must be deported. But what's the objection - especially in the context of a larger bargain that clears the way for bad apples to be deported - to normalizing the status of folks who came here as small children, and who've kept their noses clean?
I have no issue with being tough on illegal immigration. But I've never quite understood the conservative objection to relief for the "dreamer" kids who never so much as crossed a border illegally.
A bad apple is one who breaks laws, whether it is by you or your parent dragging you across. No one not permitted to be here should be here, period.
As an example, does someone who breaks into your house, bringing their child with them, deserve to have their child remain in your house? If you said 'Yes', then you are not really serious.
The punishment of the parent is of course different than some child. A parent could be incarcerated or sent back. A child, being sent back.
Going back to my example: The guy who breaks into your house will likely go to jail as punishment. The child will not go to jail, but certainly would not remain in your house to live.