I was thinking exactly the same. Yes, you can change the law and have it apply retroactively, and say it’s not Amnesty, but that is not what’s being proposed here.
If that were proposed a bank robber facing 30 years in jail, might only face 20 years, if the law changes before his trial (and maybe if it changes after), and future bank robbers would only be looking at 20 years.
Using the same logic, if “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” were simply a change in laws, then EVERYONE who enters the country, legally or not, should be allowed to go a Social Security Office and registers to stay here, work here, and bring family over, after paying some token “fine”. No one’s promising that - they’re saying, NO MORE ILLEGAL ENTRY after this second Amnesty, just like they promised after the first Amnesty.
Bottom-line...anything that legalizes these people is Amnesty. It’s NO DIFFERENT than when towns get rid of penalties for paying old parking tickets, and yes, they call that AMNESTY.
Yes, you’re right.