Work permits and a path to citizenship are not the same thing. We’ve had work permits for around 100 years, as I’m sure you know. See: Operation Wetback and the Bracero program.
Personally I am only for work permits. I saw first hand how well 2-year work permits are working in the most prosperous country of Singapore (every 6th citizen is a millionaire).
But I am not going to wait for the most right wing pure conservative candidate to magically appear. Even the candidate you are pushing for, Ted Cruz is against deporting illegals. And that only makes sense. Which is why Cruz is also on my preference list. Nothing wrong in supporting a proven republican winner from a blue state with solid executive experience in balancing budgets, giving middle class tax cuts and creating jobs, as Walker has actually done in blue Wisconsin.
This is where we conservatives have to figure something out....and I’m being serious....what exactly are we calling amnesty? Path to citizenship? Absolutely that is amnesty!!
Work permits? More of a grey area. We’ve had those and migrant labor for many many decades.
Admitting we’re not ever going to deport 12 million people (for dozens of logistical, legal and emotional reasons) - I don’t consider this amnesty. Just a sucky reality.