They're 'criminals' in the same sense Jean Valjean was a 'criminal' in Les Miserables. He stole bread when he was starving. You seem determined to play Javert.

If the majority of illegal immigrants had a realistic chance of successfully navigating the U.S. immigration system and getting a visa or green card, then I might agree with you that illegal immigrants should be dealt with more harshly. But the fact is, most of them would never be able to immigrate legally, either because they can't afford the cost or because the quota is so small their request would just be denied.

Do you think they *want* to be illegal? Make it easier/cheaper to immigrate legally and more people would do so.