"the latter is a misdemeanor criminal offense."
I have to question the validity of your source.  He claims it is a crime but quotes the law from USC 8 which, as noted previously, covers the INA code not criminal code.  Criminal code is covered in USC 18, i.e he calls something covered not under criminal code a "crime."  Categorically that is different.  Procedurally, it is also different.  Federal courts treat all violations of immigration codes as a civil offense.  SCOTUS has been quite clear on this through US legal history.  It is why violators have a right to a lawyer but the government is not required to provide one.