When Twain said “there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress,” he wasn’t kidding. See this example from Congressional Quarterly (behind a paywall):
Immigration Negotiators Parsing How to Avoid ‘Special’ Path to Citizenship
. . . Republicans’ reluctance to embrace a “special” path is intended to inoculate themselves from charges from conservative voters that they are considering “amnesty” for those who are here illegally. But that doesn’t mean GOP lawmakers can’t find common ground with Democrats, aides say.
“There’s a certain amount of talking in code,” one House Democratic aide said.
So how does Congress create a path to citizenship that won’t be seen as a “special” path? Immigration experts say it’s not impossible but it will take some subtle legislating.
“Parsing” and “talking in code” to engage in “subtle legislating” — whom do these jokers work for, again? To adapt Adam Smith, politicians seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public.