1986 AMNESTY SENT IMMIGRATION NUMBERS SOARING

Yahoo News ^ | Aug 29, 2005 | Georgie Anne Geyer

[hedgetrimmer]

The 1986 amnesty was not to be the first of many amnesties, nor a kind of experimental plug in the flow of human beings from a poor country to a rich one. To the contrary, it was to be the "last amnesty."

[Lejes Rimul]

That's not even the most shocking line. Try this on for size: "Instead, those 2.7 million settled in America and, under the dominating "family reunification" policy, were able immediately to sponsor almost any number of relatives, some bringing in 80 or 90 persons." 80 to 90! Apparently, it really does take a village... to destroy America's cultural fabric.

[hedgetrimmer]

FYI

[RockinRight]

Reagan's biggest mistake. I think he honestly felt it was the best thing we could do at the time.

About to be repeated by Bush.

[moehoward]

And people wonder why Mexican and Illegal Alien are considered synonymous......

[hedgetrimmer]

About to be repeated by Bush

Not if the American people have anything to say about it!

[Dat]

Correction: Not if a fanatical fringe group has anything to say about it.

[kellynla]

But GWB "doesn't have time" while in CA to meet with Ahnold!

Well Californians, I guess when the GOP calls you for a donation you'll know what to say..."sorry, I just don't have the time!"

[Prime Choice]

To the contrary, it was to be the "last amnesty."

Yeah, and World War I was supposed to be "the war to end all wars."

[FreeReign]

Reagan's biggest mistake. I think he honestly felt it was the best thing we could do at the time. About to be repeated by Bush.

Bush's "amnesty" is not a repeat of Reagan's amnesty.

[Reagan Man]

The Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 was meant to be a one time amnesty. The key was employer sanctions that were suppose to control unauthorized immigration to the United States. It contained strong legislation that prosecuted, fined and punished employers who hired illegals. The IRCA was also suppose to secure the borders better.

The IRCA of 1986 was not fully and properly enforced. But the laws are still on the books.

[hedgetrimmer]

Immigration Reform Must Seize Moral Ground, Says Texas Lawmaker

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Claims and sponsor of the "Save America Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act" or HR2092, explains why her bill is attracting many immigrant rights advocates.

A: My bill tries to correct the mistakes of the 1996 immigration reform. It doubles the number of visas for family reunification -- to 900,000. It doesn't put the burden of proof on asylum seekers as the 1996 law does. It makes less damning misdemeanor offenses committed by juveniles, which the 1996 law turned into felonies, that make them subject to deportation to countries they may have been born in but haven't been to in the last 20 years or so.

***

What we are up against.

[GarySpFc]

Pete Nunez, the former U.S. attorney for San Diego and a lifelong fighter for immigration control, told me in a recent talk: "Why are those numbers today so high? Because of the amnesty of 1986! Those 2.7 million illegals amnestied were then able, in the decade of the '90s, to sponsor their family members. That decade turned out to have the highest number of legal immigrants practically in our history, because of the amnesty."

There is a major problem with his logic. Granted, the number of legal immigrants from Mexico has been greater in the last 15 years, than from all of Europe, however, the number of legal immigrants under the family reunification is strictly limited to 226,000 per year, and Mexico only receives a portion of those visas. To think each Mexican sponsored 80 or 90 family members who immigranted legally is simply not possible.

[tiki]

I have been saying this since it happened. The Dims want to do it again and that's why they are starting now trying to appeal to the right who are so freaked out by the illegal situation. Amnesty CAUSED this and a new amnesty will make it worse.

We need a guest worker program with strict rules. No families, no government programs, etc.

[stylin19a]

1986 amnesity ? Good grief !

What about Clinton's "Citizenship USA" move in 1995-1996 ?

Over 1 million people naturalized in the 13 months before the 1996 elections.

Almost 88% of the immigrant files lacked sufficient documentation for anything other than deportation.

[gubamyster]

ping

[wardaddy]

It all sucks

[Watery Tart]

The 1986 amnesty was not to be the first of many amnesties, nor a kind of experimental plug in the flow of human beings from a poor country to a rich one. To the contrary, it was to be the "last amnesty." Pushed by liberals in Congress like Teddy Kennedy, it was supposed to settle and legalize the illegals already in the United States, while controlling future immigration. It was to be the solution.

OK, FReepers, time to help out my feeble memory. I seem to recall that faTeddy spearheaded this to get certain Irish terrorists in, also? The illegals from elsewhere and the terrorists, etc., were an unpleasant side effect; as long as his buddies got in....

Please set me straight if I'm wrong.
:-/

[raybbr]

Correction: Not if a fanatical fringe group has anything to say about it.

[junta]

The concept of American nationhood is dying fast, but never fear the propagandists who peddle the half truths live well in their gated communities.