| Amnesty, which has been granted seven times in the | | | | that since the workers were already inside the US |
| US, is a controversial subject regarding illegal | | | | borders, it was better to accept them into the |
| immigration laws. America has had a long-standing | | | | system as regular taxpaying citizens. Mass |
| problem with workers who cross its borders illegally | | | | deportation would have cost billions and was not an |
| to find higher paying work than what is available in | | | | effective measure to take. |
| their home country. | | | | Humanitarian reasons and fairness, proponents |
| There are many factors responsible for the illegal | | | | declare, should allow them the rights and obligations |
| immigration problem. The US has a long border that is | | | | of legal workers especially since many of them have |
| hard to police. In addition, there is high motivation for | | | | been in the US for a number of years and have been |
| workers to risk the dangerous border crossing | | | | assimilated into American culture. They state that if |
| because of the relatively high potential reward for | | | | workers have jobs, work hard, speak English and do |
| those who do make it across. | | | | not commit crimes (other than that of being an illegal |
| These undocumented workers then stay inside the | | | | immigrant), they have earned legal protection from |
| US and generally work hard to make a living despite | | | | the government. |
| the lack of official government support. Some people | | | | Other countries, most notably Spain, have also |
| who have studied the worker's predicament suggest | | | | granted amnesties to illegal immigrants. |
| amnesty as a solution. | | | | Critics, however, assert that most of the American |
| What do we mean by amnesty as applied to the | | | | people are not in favor of amnesty for illegal |
| problem of illegal immigration? | | | | immigrants. They point to surveys that say most |
| In 1986 a blanket amnesty bill was passed for the | | | | Americans do not want amnesty and fear that more |
| first time ever in the United States of America during | | | | amnesty laws will result in a further flooding of illegal |
| Ronald Reagan's term s president. The Immigration | | | | aliens across the US border. |
| Reform and Control Act or IRCA was seen as a | | | | Opinions are divided as to the desirability and |
| solution to the illegal immigration problem at that time. | | | | effectiveness of amnesty in solving the illegal worker |
| It was the first of the illegal immigration laws to grant | | | | problem. Studies have been made that suggest that |
| amnesty to aliens, mostly Mexican workers who had | | | | granting amnesty boosts the economy. For example, |
| been living in the US for several years. | | | | in 2008 the Kauffman Foundation found that |
| The IRCA granted amnesty or legal forgiveness to | | | | immigrants are more likely to start businesses than |
| millions of illegal workers who were then changed in | | | | native-born citizens, signifying that legalizing aliens |
| status to legal immigrants. In the decades since the | | | | would result in more jobs and stimulate the economy. |
| IRCA, there have been several other minor | | | | Meanwhile the debate over illegal immigration laws |
| amnesties granted or extended for undocumented | | | | rages on. One thing is for sure though - amnesty is a |
| workers. | | | | hotly-debated topic and the furor is not likely to die |
| The reasoning behind this immigration amnesty was | | | | down any time soon. |