From the post, that is not clear. It opens with "After living legally in the United States for over 20 years [...]"

From the case file, however, it seems like they entered with a J-1 visa and before their authorization to stay expired, they applied for asylum.

As long as you are in the process you are there legally.

Weird but that's how it works. Only after your deportation order has been issued and you do not contest it for an X number of days does it become final and then you have to leave.

If you are still in the country past that date you become an illegal and you can be deported. In the meantime you can basically continue with your life. But you are building on quicksand.

I think this man made the mistake of reasoning that he's useful to society so therefore society would welcome him.

Ya I was going to say the same thing... I'm sorry but why would I donate to this without more details? Maybe he did actually do something illegal and isn't articulated here in this article.

Perhaps by "living legally" he meant he'd never been in trouble with the law? That he was a productive member of society?

I don't necessarily agree with the immigration laws in the U.S., but I think you have to live within the laws a country has instated.

I think in this context, "living legally" means you are not Out-of-status by overstaying an I-94, issued to you by the USCIS (fka INS) officer at the point of entry.

IANAL.