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boatin, the rule of law is what makes things work here in the U.S., albeit sometimes imperfectly. If this were Iran, I'd agree with you that the "illegal is illegal" argument doesn't wash. Our laws, on the other hand, derive from representative government by consent. It starts with the Constitution and winds down to local government, at every level laws being enacted only after a majority of the legislative body approves. When someone disagrees with a law, he or she can lobby to change it, or you can go ahead and violate the law and takes your chances.
Your examples of common illegal activity in the U.S. simply reflect how difficult it is to legislate one's inclinations to indulge in certain vices. There is a moral component to the issue of illegal immigration, but not in that sense. Even so, by the will of the majority of people in some communities, prostitution and gambling have been legalized. As for prohibition, the 18th Amendment required two thirds of the state legislatures to ratify it, as was the case some years later, with the adoption of the 21st Amendment.
In a perfect world, all the illegals would return home, and the U.S. would implement appropriate laws and regs which greatly expedite and simplify the process of allowing them legal entry back in to work. That ship obviously sailed a long time ago, and the millions of illegals aren't going back home voluntarily. Things are admittedly a bit problematic at this point. That said, I share pan's concerns and feel that any resolution of the problem needs to address them, including the "illegal is illegal" one.
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