The dirty little secret is they don’t want to be citizens. The just want legal status so they can get better jobs than cutting lawns or working for temp agencies. All this mumbo jumbo about paying taxes and fines and waiting is all BS. The legal status is what they want and it is instant-no waiting.
The Gang of Eight "deal" legalizes illegals IMMEDIATELY. They are given protection from deportation plus work permits and social security numbers. Do not be fooled by the "path to citizenship" nonsense. Most illegals do not even want that. 3.5 million illegals were given amnesty in 1986...as of 2005 only 36% even applied to be citizens! They just want to stay here, work, and send 70% of what they earn back to their home countries. Meanwhile 57% of them collect at least one form of welfare, any children they have here are automatically CITIZENS (hence "anchor babies") and the entire family becomes eligible for SSI, food stamps and WIC. ALL OF THIS HAPPENS before any of thise "pay fines and taxes, learn English, obey the law, secure the border" nonsense. All lies. No ObamaCare? Then why did the Senate vote down Sessions' amendment to bar them from it. Of course they will get it, via Executive or Judicial fiat within months.