“But if he is ever going to win the battle to put 12 million illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship”
15 years from now they will still be saying 12 million illegal aliens. They will never admit that it is around 20 - 30 million at this time, LOL!
James Walsh, one person who ought to know, says conservatively 38 million and very carefully explains why here:
http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc_17_4/tsc_17_4_walsh.shtml