@hightor,
Ordinarily that should put that debate to bed, but, we don't live in ordinary times.
My point is the same as yours, punish the offender for the offense, no matter the person.
I believe in a path to citizenship for illegals, to me, it just makes sense all around. Otherwise you end up separating families, kids might lose their parents; also it is very costly trying round up all the illegals in the country and deport them, and we lose workers which is bad for the economy.