Why do illegals think they have done nothing when they break the law to enter a country illegally?

@SW-User Or maybe it's disregard of minor law in favor of necessities for a healthy life.

@Graylight Which would be rationalizing.

@SW-User No. Rationalizing is presenting petty, insufficient or untrue reasons for an action. Pursuit of life and liberty supersede any minor law in many peoples' opinion.

@Graylight Lol wrong. Rationalization is the attempt to justify a behavior with logical reasons regardless of their appropriateness. In the case of your explanation illegals are justifying breaking the law in the pursuit of a more promising life. There might be truth to their rationalization but the fact remains that they are breaking the law.

@SW-User The fact is being in the country illegally isn't a crime. Entering the US is a misdemeanor.

@Graylight This post isn't talking in regards to overstaying a visa. The statement clearly references illegals that are illegally entering the country. Which is most definitely breaking federal law. It comes with jail time and fines.

@SW-User Nope. 'Illegal' and 'criminal' are not synonyms and illegal entry is not a felony.

http://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/crime-enter-illegally.html
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1325
https://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2014/07/is-illegal-immigration-a-crime-improper-entry-v-unlawful-presence.html

@Graylight This is copied from the very first link you provided...........it's nearly the very first sentence, lol.

[b][i]Illegal entry (or "improper entry") to the US carries criminal penalties (fines and jail or prison time), in addition to civil penalties and immigration consequences (deportation and bars from future entry).[/i][/b]

@SW-User And where does it say it's a felony?

Again, "criminal" is not the same thing as "illegal." Speeding is illegal; it's not criminal.

@Graylight Seriously? "Crimes" aren't only confined to those branded as felonies. Misdemeanors are lesser crimes but they are still criminal acts that come with criminal penalties. And yes speeding is a criminal act...prosecuted by the state and punishable in a court of law.

@SW-User You are mistaken. Speeding - for example - is neither a misdemeanor nor a felony. So while it's illegal, it's not legally considered a crime. Same applies to immigration. Both might be subject to penalties, but it's not criminal acts we're discussing. Feel free to research the subject.

Entire civil cases have been adjudicated a deprivation of civil rights and liable to compensation without any finding of criminal wrongdoing.


(edited for additional info)

@Graylight We'll agree to disagree on the semantics of the word crime. Crime by definition includes "illegal activities".

@SW-User You are patently wrong and it's not semantics but the rule of law, but let's agree to disagree.

I think we can both say people who come into this country by way of bypassing the proper process are not doing the right thing.

@Graylight We will disagree....misdemeanors are crimes...lesser crimes but a crime all the same. You can't enforce criminal penalties on an offense and not call it a crime...simple logic.

@SW-User Logic has nothing to do with it, my friend. It's about the definition of the law. It's a thing; it's taught; it doesn't change.

@Graylight Well nothing you shared states that misdemeanors are not crimes in the eyes of the law and everything I'm seeing defines misdemeanors as "lesser crimes". What is your source that states misdemeanors as not being crimes?