For example, in this case, the question is not, "Can the government deport me?" The question is, "Can I be given a period of time in which to make arrangements so that my daughter is not irrevocably harmed by the deportation?" The answer to that question may be "no," but it is a very reasonable question to ask.

How do you know this wasn't answered?

Police departments don't have enough resources to arrest every single person who commits any crime.

Of course. But that doesn't mean they're allowed to watch someone actively breaking the law and just ignore it. They're not given that power formally.

But if you get caught taking a few deductions you shouldn't have, there's virtually no chance you're going to get sentenced to five years in federal prison if you are otherwise an upright and virtuous person. Because not every instance of lawbreaking is the same, and no two lawbreakers are the same.

I still robbed a bank even though I did good later. Does the good - that resulted from the crime - outweigh the crime? Should I pay no price?

Linking this to this one particular immigrant: there's only 1 penalty for being here illegal and that's deportation. Are you suggesting another punishment or are we giving her amnesty?

But you can't make the argument that the government can't simultaneously treat this woman differently and still have rules against robbing banks and stealing millions of dollars, on the grounds that they both involve the law.

That's *your* argument, not mine. I'm not the one saying, "Don't deport this woman, she's lived a clean life", you are. Again, there's really only 1 penalty for illegal entry and that's to be sent out across the border. In that sense it's different from our bank robbing scenario because the judge has discretion in what to sentence me more - I could pay restitution, I could do community service, I could serve 1 year or I could serve 20 at hard labor. All the extenuating circumstances you're arguing are in the play there because there is a Pain Knob on the potential punishment. Shoot, the government could even charge me some other kind of crime.

But in deportation cases you're either here illegally and subject to deportation or you've been granted some kind of reprieve. There's no public service or parole or some other kind of option available.

THAT's why I'm pressing you on amnesty.