> That is it, you said it.

Said what? That deportation isn't a criminal punishment? Oh no, you got me! Checkmate I guess.

I'll answer as if this is a good faith rejoinder, even though we both know it isn't.

Deportation is drastic. Very drastic. It's also very expensive and often very disruptive to many people's lives, including American citizens. Think households with an undocumented spouse, for example.

It's generally a bad thing to do without very good, justifiable reasons. Not the least of which how expensive it is for the state.

> Would you expect a cop who is detaining you because you were speeding, to let you go without checking your license because of some personal emergency. Why do you expect something different here?

I wouldn't expect police to imprison people indefinitely (and at great cost to the state) for minor traffic violations, no. That would be insane.