Criminal record...Is illegal residency a criminal rather than a civil offense? I have heard it is a matter of civil law, but I am no expert. Perhaps you know?
In my opinion, that too should be a disqualifier. If laws matter, then you do not reward one who broke the law with amnesty or pretending they didn’t. If you’re here illegally, you didn’t respect the law in the first place and surrendered any “rights” when you left your country of origin.