I wonder if the thousands participating in the rallies this weekend and today realize the damage they’re doing. Or, if they even care.

Wearing a bright green T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Mexico,” 18-year-old Marco Tapia couldn’t wait to join the biggest march for immigrants he had ever seen. The Mexican-born high school senior was among about 30,000 who marched through St. Paul in support of immigrant rights, and among more than half a million people who rallied Sunday in 10 states. Dozens more marches were planned nationwide Monday.

“Hopefully this will change the way America thinks,” said Tapia, a high school senior who is living illegally in Minneapolis with his mother and sister. “We’re not criminals. We’re just regular people like everybody else here.”

Two things here. 1) “We’re not criminals.” You are living here illegally. Yes. You. Are. 2) “Hopefully this will change the way America thinks.” It will. It will have the effect of turning more and more Americans against your cause.

That’s probably not what you were hoping for.