As a national issue, deporting people who should by rights be citizens and have known no other country than ours, many of whom are parents of actual American citizens, children, citizens, who might not even know Spanish, that's a minor issue?

The 51 seat party should simply out forward a bill that can be accepted by 60 seats. If they fail, they should take 100% responsibility. Republicans have to concede that those last 9 seats are democrat seats and the power of those seats is (perhaps unfairly) almost as big as the 51 first seats, but the responsibility still lies with the majority to govern.

Oh, just cave in, and be walked all over?

Not that you're being biased, at all.

You know, like I'm sure you wanted the Republicans to do under Cruz in 2013?

Shame on the Democrats for opposing the Republican party, as the Republican party did the last eight years. They should just "realize they're weak and accept it [and do what they're told]".

The sad thing about this is that you most likely you think your perspective is eminently objective and unbiased.