- The vast majority of illegal entries are civil violations, like running a red light except not dangerous.
My wife came within a week of losing her green card last month. They put a temp extension on it in the 11th hour. She would have been a criminal, subject to the prosecution and deportation you talk about.
She's been trying like hell for over 4 years to get it renewed. She's been married to two American men, apparently not enough. Immigration is so jammed out, the entire system is near paralysed.
In the meantime, you would not believe the shit the government has put her through. From NW Florida, she's spent years travelling far for appointments, to New Orleans, to Montgomery, to 4 different states.