If they met the requirements of section 201 and 245 they could apply for Lawful Temporary Resident status wait eighteen months then apply for Lawful Permanent Resident status. After five years they could apply for citizenship.
During that five year period they could not apply for Federal Financial Assistance with the exception of SSI. Even after five years it wasn't automatically guaranteed they would be granted citizenship, they had a long list of requirements which included showing more than a passing knowledge and understanding of the English language and Civics as well as proof of good citizenship.
Whatever you want to call what Reagan did...it set the precedent here...but more importantly in Mexico, and elsewhere.
Don't you think that the Mexican government...and the terrorists didn't take notice??
I think President Bush is taking the blame for not fixing something that has been festering for a very long time.