[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

No, but the Government enforces the law, and determines who can stay and who needs to leave. So, if the Government apprehends someone, not at a designated point of entry, gives them a court date, and releases them into the country, don't they become a "de facto" legal resident? The Government is allowing these people to enter the country and live here until they go to court. It seems to me that they are legal residents at least until the court date. Also, I believe, in some cases, they are not even given a specific court date, but just allowed to enter the country.

You've just described the problem... The government is not enforcing their own laws...

Still doesn't make it legal... De facto or otherwise...