[stop_fascism]

Your describing the system as it exists today. Additionally, today people are working against catching illegals to begin with. Some police in California are prevented from even checking to see if someone is illegal while he is being arrested for another crime. The status quo is unlimited illegal imigration with almost no chance of punishment.

The new proposal will give illegals an opportunity to legalize their status. If they don't take advantage of that, and remain illegal it will be much more difficult to argue that they "just want to work" etc. etc. INS can say that they can work legally, but choose to break the law. That will remove their main defence and make it easier to deport them. Now it we will actually take advantage of that is another question.

[WOSG]

"Additionally, today people are working against catching illegals to begin
with. Some police in California are prevented from even checking to see if someone is illegal while he is being arrested
for another crime. The status quo is unlimited illegal imigration with almost no chance of punishment. "

The solution obviously is to change those bad laws and bad policies that hamstring law enforcement of immigration law.