Many would like to think Reagan was an amnesty guy.
That is a wish in some people's mind
As a native resident of San Diego of many decades and as one who worked at Reagan's headquarters here when he first ran for gov. the facts speak for themselves.
1. The Reagan Amnesty granted a blanket Amnesty to Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
The Reagan Amnesty wasn’t for all Illegal Aliens, there were many requirements that had to be met for Illegals to be eligible. Among them were certain residency requirements, no felony convictions, less than three misdemeanor convictions, medical examinations, etc. They can be found in the following subsection:
"Sec. 245A. (a) Temporary Resident Status.--The Attorney General shall adjust the status of an alien to that of an alien lawfully admitted for temporary residence if the alien meets the following requirements:
2. The Reagan Amnesty granted automatic citizenship to Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
As seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
3. The Reagan Amnesty granted citizenship to some Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
Again, as seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
4. The Reagan Amnesty granted automatic permanent residence (green cards) to Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
Once again, as seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
For permanent residence requirements, one must go to Section 245(b):
"(b) Subsequent Adjustment to Permanent Residence and Nature of Temporary Resident Status.--
The adjustment to permanent residence for legalized Illegals wasn’t “automatic,” they had to be legalized as temporary workers first, and subsequently adjusted to permanent status. For adjustment to permanent status, the legalized-Illegal had to apply between eighteen and thirty months after being granted his temporary residence, under Section 245(b).1.A.
5. The Reagan Amnesty granted immediate permanent residence (green cards) to some Illegal Aliens.
FALSE
And yet again, as seen above in Section 245A., the adjustment of status for Illegal Aliens was to admission for “temporary residence.”
Same 245(b)(1)(A) applies: requirements for all Illegals adjusted to temporary residence, as seen above at Question #4, before being granted permanent residence.
6. The Reagan Amnesty was granted to Illegal Aliens, free of charge.
FALSE
Illegal Aliens had to pay a fee to be legalized as temporary residents, under Section 245(c)(7)(A) :
"(7) Application fees.--
"(A) Fee schedule.--The Attorney General shall provide for a schedule of fees to be charged for the filing of applications for adjustment under subsection (a) or (b)(1).
Bonus Question:
The Reagan Amnesty mentions the word “Amnesty.”
FALSE
Do the word search on Title II, Section 201 yourself.
Or scroll below, where I’ve posted the entire Section of the legislation that is devoted to Legalization of Status for Illegal Aliens.
Double Secret Bonus Question:
The word “Amnesty” is mentioned in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
FALSE
Go ahead; search every Title and Section of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The Reagan Amnesty didn’t call itself an Amnesty, anywhere in the legislation.
My guess that's pretty much what we'll get in the Bush-Kennedy non-amnesty reform.
Meese states in his NYT article, "The difference is that President Reagan called this what it was: amnesty. Indeed, look up the term "amnesty" in Black's Law Dictionary, and you'll find it says, "the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act provided amnesty for undocumented aliens already in the country."
The "Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986". aka Simpson-Mazzoli was amnesty no matter how you try to spin it. Yes, there were requirements that had to be met, but it rewarded people who illegally entered our country a path to citizenship in much the same way that McCain-Kennedy-Hagel-Martinez proposed. In fact, if you compare S2611 with Simpson/Mazzoli, you will find some of the exact same language, word for word.
You can also check the language of the McCain bill and you will find no mention of the word "Amnesty." If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, it is a duck, no matter what you call it.