Our immigration rules are much different, more complex and have a lot of places where things aren't clear. Which is why we have judges in ICE court who decide things like removals on a case by case basis. I've helped people successfully avoid being deported, even though there was definitely enough cause to do so. Also if somebody walks across the border and immediately surrenders to BP and is asking for asylum, then that is not illegal. So you have to determine what would compel somebody to do something desperate like that. Did you know that if you have even a halfway competent attorney, you can delay removal proceedings for years, be able to claim legal status, work legally, etc while appealing your removal? I've had other ones where I thought it was a slam dunk where we would win and the judge ruled against us. Not for lack of trying. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way. But most of the time I've helped on cases, we've been pretty successful. So short answer, the laws concerning ICE are not exactly black and white. The NCAA rules are very clear though.