The amnesty program when President Reagan was in office also provided for strict enforcement against employers of illegals and other legislation intended to halt illegal immigration. The thinking at the time was to legalize illegals that were already here and make it very tough on future illegals. This seemed like a solution at the time; which is why there was little real opposition to the program. The biggest problem was that the new laws were seen to be so harsh that they were not enforced. I don’t think President Reagan could have forseen that thinking. Politicians that are trying to do an amnesty program now should have the benefit of knowing the problems that were created as a result of the previous amnesty
Wasn't Reagan President? Wasn't it his job to see that they were enforced? If not, why do so many think now that it is Bush's responsibility to see that they are enforced?
Politicians that are trying to do an amnesty program now should have the benefit of knowing the problems that were created as a result of the previous amnesty.
Perhaps, but Reagan has remained a very popular President, and there's a lot of pressure from various groups, so why not? Granting amnesty may have even helped Reagan's popularity (with Latinos, businesses and Democrats). People seem to want to give Reagan a pass on the immigration issue, almost deifying him, but they beat Bush up over it.
Please don't misunderstand. I am in favor of rounding up the illegals and shipping them back home, building a fence, and increasing border security. I make a lot of noise with both Bush and my Congressional representatives about the issue. But I find it disingenuous that Reagan, who it could easily be argued started the flood of illegals we are now stuck with, is nearly deified, while the whole of the problem seems to be laid on Bush's shoulders.