"Beware the demagogues ready to declare a trade war against our friends"

[Jonathan Whatley]

The United States is a constitutional republic.

Yes. That United States constitution describes a democracy with the representatives who constitute the republic elected democratically.

Being democratic is essential to the nature of the United States, differentiating it from non-democratic constitutional republics such as the Soviet Union.

The act on its own of being an undocumented immigrant is not criminal, though it is a civil violation.

Crossing the U.S. border without authorization is illegal under 8 U.S.C. § 1325, which carries a penalty of up to six months' imprisonment. Crossing the border illegally a second time is classified as a felony with a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison.

True! But many undocumented immigrants never crossed the border illegally. They crossed the border legally, then overstayed.