re: #289 Patricia Kayden

This is important because Republicans have done a great job in demonizing migrants. Entering this country without authorization is not in and if itself a crime. Or perhaps I’m missing something.

Simply entering the country without proper authorisation is not a crime, but a civil offence. It carries a fine and deportation as the penalty.

The actual crime is avoiding a customs house (smuggling). That is a Felony and punishable by jail (and can be meted out to both Americans and foreigners).

The other crime associated with that is hiring someone knowing they are not authorised to legally work in the country. That is also a Felony punishable by fines, jail, and seizure of assets. However, corporations and businesses would be the ones guilty of that (normally), the GOP would never want that crime prosecuted.