NO person who has come here in violation of our laws should EVER be, or become, eligible for citizenship, as a result of that action.
The absolute maximum amnesty for those types should be permanent residency (with NO associated path the citizenship). The best they are eligible for is that their children (if born here) will be eligible. I'd even go so far as to allow some mechanism for children not born here to become citizens, as they weren't the responsible parties in breaking our laws.
"IF" they go home, get in line with the regular LEGAL immigrants, and go through the process, THEN they can become citizens.
One of the first things they did when they saved enough money was go back and apply for legal status, which they got before the floodgates opened in 1965 because they were plainly good citizenship material.
So I will always beleive there is cream even among the illegal alien crop and efforts should be made to accomodate such people, even if they make up a small minority.