Being in the US illegally is not a felony and entering the US illegally is not a felony, unless you were previously deported.
In Arizona, as long as the illegal is on public property, no citizen can arrest him.
What if a citizen witnesses a border-crossing? Or any other misdemeanor? Can a citizen effect a lawful arrest in AZ? I thought the answer was 'yes.'
You're right, the first time it's a misdemeanor, which is part of the problem (that could and should have been fixed in the Patriot Act). But it's still subject to arrest and immediate confinement as well as detention without bond. NOT subject to CITIZENS arrest, maybe, but citizen patrols are not going to solve this problem...unless and until the states give them the authority to act.
Sadly, it sounds like Arizona lawmakers value illegals more than they do US citizens. Is there no way to get your state legs attention, no one to shame them into action? Where's McCain when you need him? Oh, that's right...he's with Hillary! And she WILL make illegals her banner issue if something's not done before '08.