When we’re talking about 12 - 20 million criminals, I’d settle for “moderately enforcing the law” as opposed to almost completely ignoring it.
The basic problem with deporting the illegals is that
US unemployment is low low low.
The stock market is high.
Govt. tax revenue at all levels are high.
The federal budget deficit as a percent of gdp is low.
The state and local govts. are mostly in pretty good shape.
The US crime rate is near 20 year lows.
Convincing people that deporting the illegals will make unemployment even lower, stock market higher, increase tax revenue, decrease govt. spending, and decrease crime even more, THAT IS A TOUGH SELL.