[August]

Originally Posted by Platapus

If we are going to discuss the legality of this topic, it might be useful if we knew what laws were were talking about.

Can anyone find the federal law that addresses this? What law is someone breaking if they are already inside the United States and not a registered alien?

Seems to me that would be a good place to start.

Good point. Let's start with Wikipedia:

Immigrants can be classified as illegal for one of three reasons: entering without authorization or inspection, staying beyond the authorized period after legal entry, or violating the terms of legal entry.

Section 1325 in Title 8 of the United States Code, "Improper entry of alien", provides for a fine, imprisonment, or both for any immigrant who:

1. enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration agents, or
2. eludes examination or inspection by immigration agents, or
3. attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact.

The maximum prison term is 6 months for the first offense and 2 years for any subsequent offense.