On Fri, 17 Aug 2012 15:57:59 -0400, Jack wrote:

On 8/17/2012 11:42 AM, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
On Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:28:11 -0400, Jack wrote:

Entering the country w/o permission is a misdemeanor (crime) the first
offense, and a felony (crime) thereafter.

AIUI, it's a civil offense the first time (not a misdemeanor).

AIUI, It's a misdemeanor

mis·de·mean·or
noun
1. Law . a criminal offense defined as less serious than a felony.

No, it's not. A traffic ticket is less than a felony but it is not a
misdemeanor, either. It is an infraction. Being here illegally is similar,
at least technically.

The reason
being that it doesn't require a trial (by jury) to deport an alien, only an
administrative action. The second offense, after deportation, can result in a
prison sentence, so would naturally require a trial.

The second offense is a felony, both amazingly are ignored by our [fed]
government at this time, to the point of suing states for trying to keep
it real.

There, I agree with you.