The original reply that kicked off that conversation was:
They say we can not round up these people and ship them out. BS just do it.
I don't know where you've been reading, but I see this type of thing all the time at FR -- there is a significant mindset out there that will accept nothing less than mass deportations, regardless of the feasibility or practicality of how it could actually be done.
Now maybe it's a very small (but noisy) minority, but that sentiment is out there. It's not an "invention of anti-enforcement/pro amnesty types." As for myself, I'm in favor of strong enforcement measures and against what is commonly called "amnesty" (I'd be in favor of what could be considered a "limited" amnesty that says that the illegal entry would be forgiven/not considered if they leave the country and re-apply through the normal immigration process).
“Now maybe it’s a very small (but noisy) minority, but that sentiment is out there. It’s not an “invention of anti-enforcement/pro amnesty types.”
It’s a canard used shamelessly by pro-amnesty pols such as Kennedy/McCain/the Bush Administration and others who spoke in favor of amnesty. They finally quieted down some after they realized a large number of US citizens were sick of: “You can’t deport them all,” “Jobs Americans won’t do,” “Family values don’t stop at the Rio Grande,” and other such drivel.
They definitely invented it as a stupid, insulting and harmful to their cause slogan along with the others mentioned.