Well, having worked with INS before it became a part of DHS, I guess I could be wrong.  Maybe I wasn't paying attention.  If an individual ILLEGAL alien has extenuating circumstances that would preclude removal, there are lots of lawyers that specialize in representing those individuals to DOJ.  Still today, one can be represented by a sufficiently knowledgeable pro se law student or paralegal.  In the article, Mr Block (whom I know) was quoted , “If a person is a felon who has committed crimes that they consider to be priorities for enforcement … "  Priorities for enforcement.  Wouldn't that mean prioritizing?  And if they are a "felon" wouldn't that mean a crime was committed?  I know what you're trying to get at and there are many sad stories both back then and now that I sympathize with.  Many vietnamese hairdressers downtown were extradited, then refused entry into their own country, and we had to bring them back here.  Now they work downtown.