As a border denizen, I can tell you that the legislation that Reagan signed is responsible for the mess we have today.
I agree and this one got put in its place so as far as I’m concerned it’s over at least for this Presidents tenure.
Bunkum! Instead of employing 20-20 hindsight to blame Reagan for the immigration mess we have today, look at the facts.
Besides the legalization provision, the IRCA of 1986 included serious employer sanctions that Pres Reagan fought hard to get included in the final bill that came out of the Senate. This included up to a one million dollar fine. If those employer sanctions had been enforced by the Feds, the amnesty provision would have turned out to be, what it was meant to be. A one time only grant of amnesty to 2.7 million illegals.
Instead, with the Dems taking control of the Senate in 1987, things changed. Sen Ted Kennedy gutted the employer sanctions that Reagan had demanded. This opened up the flood gates and led to more liberal immigration policies from Bush41, to Clinton, to Bush43.
What Reagan signed into law in 1986, didn't turn out the way he envisioned it. OTOH, there is no way Reagan would support the liberal immigration reform that Bush, McCain and Fat Ted Kennedy are trying to ram down the throats of the American people today.