Before we go any further, let's define the word immigrant...
Here's my definition, there are immigrants, and there are illegal aliens, but there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant because the word immigrant in and of itself implies legal entry.
Sometime in the past, Alberto Gonzales belonged to the NCLR, he appears not to be a member any longer.
I am the son of a legal immigrant. My mother came to this country when she was 21. She studied for her citizenship and became an American citizen. She was (and still is, at the tender age of 80) a loyal American, both of whose sons served America in the Vietnam War. My father served America in WWII and was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve until he retired from that position. If America found itself in a war with her country of birth, she would hope her relatives still there could get out, but then she wouldn't have a second thought about destroying the place.
Obviously, in a purely legal sense, immigrant does assume legality and legitamcy. However, the word has been abused for so long by ALL parties to the issue that it's almost become meaningless today. Hence, I try to limit my definitions to "legals" and "illegals". Does that make any sense?