I live here, I saw what happened. I saw so many of the ones they gave amnesty get on the dole. I saw the lies that people told to get people with money amnesty and we also just established bases for the rest of their families to come so that they'd be here for the next amnesty, not one of them believed that this would be a one-time thing.
I can't even remembere why Reagan went along with the bill but I know it was to get something that he thought was important and it was a political move. I really don't think any less of Reagan than I did, he did what he felt he had to do but in my opinion, he did the wrong thing.
Nonsense. Congress would have been satisfied passing an amnesty bill and overriding any Reagan veto. To his credit, Reagan fought for the tough employer sanctions and improved border security to be included. Again. If Ted Kennedy hadn't gutted the funding for the employer sanctions, the subsequent liberal immigration policies carried out from 1990 until today, wouldn't have had a clear track for enactment into law. Come on, Reagan wasn't responsible for what Fat Ted Kennedy did, anymore then he was responsible for what Bush41, Clinton or Bush43 did on their watch when it came to their own liberal immigration policy.
>>>>>I can't even remembere why Reagan went along with the bill ...
I told you why he did it. Reagan compromised on the amnesty provision, to get tough employer sanctions and stronger border security. At the time many conservatives --- like myself --- didn't agree with the amnesty provision, but you can't hold Reagan responsible for todays immigration mess. Reagan didn't support open borders. Reagan said: "A nation without borders is not a nation."
Reagan in his own words:
"This bill, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, that I will sign in a few minutes is the most comprehensive reform of our immigration laws since 1952. It's the product of one of the longest and most difficult legislative undertakings in the last three Congresses. Further, it's an excellent example of a truly successful bipartisan effort. The administration and the allies of immigration reform on both sides of the Capitol and both sides of the aisle worked together to accomplish these critically important reforms to control illegal immigration.
"In 1981 this administration asked the Congress to pass a comprehensive legislative package, including employer sanctions, other measures to increase enforcement of the immigration laws, and legalization. The act provides these three essential components. Distance has not discouraged illegal immigration to the United States from all around the globe. The problem of illegal immigration should not, therefore, be seen as a problem between the United States and its neighbors. Our objective is only to establish a reasonable, fair, orderly, and secure system of immigration into this country and not to discriminate in any way against particular nations or people."
"Future generations of Americans will be thankful for our efforts to humanely regain control of our borders and thereby preserve the value of one of the most sacred possessions of our people: American citizenship. "