“We are in dire need of workers, so there is a lot of fear from across the state … that this new law will actually be devastating."
“We are in dire need of workers, so there is a lot of fear from across the state … that this new law will actually be devastating."
There is no such thing as an “illegal immigrant” in this country. It is not illegal to be in the US without papers, no matter if you entered legally or not. And “entering legally” means going through a checkpoint. You have to do that regardless of whether you’re a citizen or not. Plenty of undocumented immigrants enter legally and then overstay their visa, which is not a crime in the US. It’s literally not part of the criminal code.
Er, people absolutely do enter through non-checkpoints. And it is a crime, though IIRC it’s a misdemeanor. At least argue in good faith.
Of course, but that doesn’t determine whether you’re documented or not. You can be undocumented and have entered through the proper checkpoints. Or you can be a citizen and enter illegally. Entering illegally is a misdemeanor, and it does not make you an illegal immigrant. In fact, nothing makes you an illegal immigrant in the US because legally that concept simply does not exist. Congress would have to change that.