In 35 years, "someone" could have taken the steps for citizenship.
No one is above the law.
Facts are facts.
We don't know what they have to go through to gain legal residence, but that is beside the point.
Where do they belong? Someplace they haven't been for decades?
The facts on the ground are they live here, have families here, and work here.
Perhaps kind of like Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Golan Heights?
I talked with a guy who said his ancestors came here from Ireland during the potato famine. But he says they did so legally with the intent to assimilate and went through Ellis Island.
Anyone see a problem with that story?