Immigration - President Obama's Executive Action vs Ronald Reagan's Amnesty Some have asked me, isn't what President Obama trying to do on immigration the same thing that President Ronald Reagan did back in the '80's? What President Obama is proposing is Executive Action. (He is acting without Congress.) What Ronald Reagan did in 1986 was sign a law passed by Congress. The Simpson-Mazzoli Act, which Congress approved was sent to President Reagan for his signature. It gave amnesty to three million illegal immigrants. Hope that helps. http://bit.ly/1AvTipl