Even under Obama criminals like that are the top priority for deportation.

You're ignoring all the other negatives that policies like this induce. Not all immigrants are every type of criminal. That's a simple logical fallacy. Just because you broke an immigration law (usually out of desperation) does not mean you'll commit fraud, murder, or theft. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama_HB_56
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_SB_1070