Not necessarily. There is a legitimate compromise condition....it is called "permanent residency". Currently "permanent residency" includes an almost automatic path the citizenship. Change that so that for ILLEGAL immigrants, the citizenship option is eliminated......they will be allowed to stay in the US and work, but NEVER, EVER be allowed to vote.
For minor children brought here illegally by their parents, a similar condition of permanent residency, but with the option to apply for citizenship upon reaching age 21, with the conditions of successfully getting an education (high school diploma minimum) OR serving a term in a branch of the US military and being honorably discharged.
Finally, such legislation MUST close the Mexican/US border, by whatever means necessary.
The above meets any sane notion of "compassion" and fairness.
And you think it's a good idea to have the same government that spends every dollar of the Social Security surplus while still calling it a trust fund asset ... have the ability to declare the border secure when it will be nothing close to secure.
That is the problem now, as it was in 1987. Amnesty is granted but the border security and immigration enforcement never materialize.