As an immigrant...
I don't feel amnesty is a cheat. As I said elsewhere, to become an American I paid the fees, waited, wrote a modest test and took the oath. That's it.
As we're all aware, others often risk everything, up to and including their life, to come here. Then they face continued hardship and daily fear in order to stay. If I were to sit in my comfy chair and say "to hell with 'em," who'd be cheating who?