Law: legal document setting forth rules governing a particular kind of activity; "there is a law against kidnapping".
Crime: A crime in a broad sense is an act that violates a political or moral law. In the narrow sense, a crime is a violation of the criminal law.
Criminal: someone who has committed (or been legally convicted of) a crime.
It seems clear to me that a violation of a law is a crime and he who violates the law is a criminal. So why are there so many people making protest claiming that illegal immigrants should not be considered criminals?
Let’s see, say a person was driving at 60 MPH on a highway with a speed limit of 55 MPH. A speed limit is the maximum speed allowed by law for vehicles on a road. So that would mean that person is breaking the law. But what difference could 5 MPH make when driving 55 MPH could still kill you in an accident? It does not matter, it’s the law and that’s the point.
What about a nice old lady carrying a concealed weapon illegaly, she fears getting robbed or murdered or raped. Weapon possession, as a crime, consists of that circumstance in which a person who is not legally authorised to carry a concealed weapon is found in possession of such a weapon. But a person with a licence to posses a concealed weapon could still hurt innocent people. It doesn’t matter, it’s the law.
What about J-walking, or not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, or having sex with a 17 year old that will be 18 in 2 days, or buying marijuana? All these crimes sound silly to convict someone of, I mean look at how many people J-walk and don’t get in trouble, and why should you stop completely at a stop sign when you can plainly see there is no one coming in the other direction, and whats the big deal with having sex with a girl who will be 18 in 2 days which will make her legal anyways and why is pot a bad thing?
Get my point? It’s still a law and it’s still a crime to violate it. I am 99% (cause nothing is perfect) sure most people would not hesitate to want someone criminally charged for something as stupid as these crimes I listed above if it involved and harmed them in some way.
No matter how you slice it, crossing the border illegally is a violation of a law, it’s intentionally violating it regardless of reason, and violating a law is a crime and those who commit crimes are criminals, plain and simple.
I am not cold hearted, I too feel for those who are poor and just looking for means to survive. I may not been poor like those who cross the border, but I too have found myself in very bad situations where breaking a law was not off the table as a means to fewed my family, but I never did, I always found ways to get myself out of the dilema.
One last things, what the deal with bringing up those who came to this country without any papers when we first arrived in the US over 200 years ago, as I saw someone mention on TV as part of a protest? Back then there were no immigration laws like today so I don't see how any of this can relate to todays illegal immigration problem. Maybe someone can explain this to me. I'm all ears.