I hope you're not suggesting that they're all the same individuals.
You've identified the one group for whom I would make an exception. The only exception.
Anyone willing to put his life on the line to earn the blessings of liberty and freedom (as opposed to welfare, social programs and "frebies") can be forgiven what is presently a simple misdemeanor.
That narrows the existing illegal population down to around 11,995,000 give or take.
I absolutely do distinguish the moral character of these two groups but it is such distinctions that I hope to retain in this debate.
There are illegals who have made supportive moral decisions. That ought to be the goal in the end.