[realo]

But what to do with an "illegal immigrant" who has been living in the country for 30 years (and PAID TAXES!) , had 4 kids and a perfectly normal , productive life?

Do you separate them from their kids, and send the bunch to a prison? That is insane.

Because from what we hear about ICE, that is exactly what is happening... when they don't just kill them outright.

[mindslight]

It might be enlightening for some to look at what happens to someone who builds a house on land they don't own, and then lives there for 30 years. It's a pretty well established body of law.

[mdgld]

Except your analogy is asinine, and in this case it would be more like paying rent for 30 years in an apartment but not being on the lease so they unceremoniously kick you out.

[mindslight]

You can't just make an unsubstantiated claim of "asinine". I'd say the comparison is quite apt. Failure to enforce a condition can amount to tacit agreement to it - the same thing can apply in contracts.

Also a tenant in your situation would most certainly have rights to not be "unceremoniously kicked out" - both a time period before they'd even be legally expected to leave, and also legal protections against being forcibly removed even if they didn't leave at that time.