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No confusion. I understand that we are going to forgive them for breaking the law and allow them to continue working. Sure they are going to have to pay a fee, you can call it a "fine" if you like, and have to leave the country in 5 years and then they can come back legally.

First, the law is currently to deport them. How about enforcing that law.

Second, what makes you think they will not just sneak back in after they leave the country in 5 years (if they actually leave). What happens if they don't? We have people that overstay their visas, that is a good indicator of what will happen.

Third, what makes you think that they will sign up? They did not do the legal thing to come into the country, why should they do the legal thing to stay? What happens if they don't?

You ask good questions. In brief, I think the immigration laws should be enforced. The fact that the number of illegal immigrants in the US is so large that enforcement is nearly impossible makes this problematic.

They'll sneak back in anyway if they're deported, so what's your suggestion?

They may not sign up, but the policy that we're not going to slap them in chains and cart them to prison may be incentive enough to come out from the shadows.