Thread: 1986 Amnesty Increased Illegal Immigration - and Would Again

June 26, 2009

1986 Amnesty Increased Illegal Immigration - so would any amnesty-again in the 21st century

Posted by D.A. King at 12:21 pm

2000 INS Report:
1986 Amnesty Increased Illegal Immigration

WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2000) — The report on America’s illegal immigration crisis by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), released today on Capitol Hill, highlights the profound unintended consequences of illegal-alien amnesties, just as Congress is considering another such amnesty. The report also makes clear, contrary to the conventional wisdom, that legal and illegal immigration are so intimately connected as to be two sides of the same coin. (Download the report at http://wwwa.house.gov/lamarsmith/INSreport.pdf.)
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The report represents a genuine effort by the INS to examine this complex problem. The new estimates are the best to date and provide valuable new information for policymakers and the public. Among the findings, and their implications:

Amnesties clearly do not solve the problem of illegal immigration. About 2.7 million people received lawful permanent residence (â€

[quote]Between 1987 and 1996, the report states that 1.3 million green cards were given out to illegal aliens as part of the normal “legalâ€

[quote="vortex"][quote]Between 1987 and 1996, the report states that 1.3 million green cards were given out to illegal aliens as part of the normal “legalâ€

Illegal immigration can be controlled only with a strategy that combines border enforcement with efforts to turn off the magnets that attract illegal aliens in the first place — jobs and green cards.

One way to turn off the job magnet is to perform work place raids - deport the illegal workers and jail the employers! Fining employers isn't enough (IMO). If illegal alien employers know that jail is mandatory, it's my sense that they'll cease and desist! The thought of losing everything has a strange way of adjusting the attitude of folks with big bank accounts, living in large houses, and driving expensive cars. It's difficult to run a business while sitting behind bars.