No free passes, but it makes sense to start with the rapists and murderers, work your way down from Maine to Florida, Washington state to California, Minnesota to Texas. Start actual enforcement and many will find their own way home.
Even many leftists give lip service to a focus on murderers, rapists, etc. Nixon started the problem of lip service and no actual enforcement. Every president since has followed Nixon’s lead.
But the real rub is welfare. Clearly SSI, TANF, EBT, WIC, etc are welfare. The pragmatic reality is that in getting it in even a conservative congress and conservative president, we could cut off the above welfare to illegals. But it would be difficult to cut off education.
So scoring a touchdown with no extra points is better than no touchdown at all.
Historically it has always been the immigration policy that immigrants can not come here to collect welfare. When my wife obtained her green card, and then naturalization, I was required each time to guarantee that she would not go on welfare. But that is not enforced. That is the problem that is the crux of the issue.
If we allow another underclass on welfare we go downhill. If we provide no welfare and allow honest work, we create positive direction for the country.