Open borders--(no borders) is not going to happen anytime soon. I still have heard no sensible argument, backed by logic, as to why all illegal immigrants shouldn't have a clear path to citizenship, as I and others have advocated on other threads. Not on a silver platter--it would require command of English and certification of no criminal record--except for the act of illegal entry itself--and it would mean getting behind all legal immigrants.

But there would be no fine as part of the process, and no necessity for "touchback". If the illegal immigrant has incurred fines for other reasons, they should be paid--but not used as an excuse to toss the immigrant out of the US--as in Janie's example.

Also, legal means of entry should be expanded--and this should be coupled with a sizable rise in the minimum wage (already started). Anything else is punitive, mean-spirited---and wrong for the US economy.