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I personally know of a case where a woman from the UK came to America on a tourist visa, while here, fell in love and married a man from the US. She lived here for 20 years. Got a green card, got a social security card. Qualified to receive social security when she reached 62. Never changed her visa or immigration status.

Got divorced, got the house that was much nicer than mine in the settlement. Her ex told the Immigration folks about the change in status. She spent about $10,000 on immigration attorneys to try and stay in the US. Lost all appeals.

Later, armed ICE agents came to her place of work and arrested her. She was held for one year at the ICE detention facility in Houston near the Bush Airport, while more hearings were held (you paid all the bills) She was released and started working again. She was then was advised, she was going to be re-arrested (when you have a real job with a real social security number they can find you real easy) unless she reported on her own to the International airport of Bush. She did not want to go back to jail again, so she reported and was give a free airline ticket to London. (your nickle again)

Once in London, although relatively well off in the US, she took no money with her naturally and so on arrival was enrolled right into the welfare system of England. Money, place to live, free healthcare, etc.

She has readjusted, has a job in London, I occasionally get a post card from the South of France, when she is on holiday. Soon the US will be sending her social security benefits to her in England. She will probably comfortably retire in England with two pensions. In a few years she will be able to legally travel again to the US, so she can visit her friends and relatives who live here, and spend some of the money she has here.

But she will not get any amnesty. Nice ladies from England, to heck with people like that.

Problem with all this is, I have been here before. I remember when Regan signed the last amnesty bill. Yeah that was going to fix everything. All the same good reasons, all the same good benefits. Now 30 years later we are back in the same exact spot.