> More importantly, we shouldn't restrict our policy decisions based on avoiding making people upset.

I think that's a fair point. A more important argument is that making the system too lenient towards people who have come here illegally creates the wrong incentives.

Perhaps. But that also shouldn't stop us from making the system better and more sane. Today the system is ridiculous and laden with vestiges of waves of anti-immigrant sentiment in the past. It needs to become sane, and if that means cutting a few corners then I think that's better than continuing to perpetuate injustice and ridiculous laws that don't uphold the ideals of our country.