IIRC, that legislation was more than just what was seen as amnesty for illegals. It was an attempt to correct some serious flaws in the Immigration Laws.
Overwhelmingly, the purpose of that legislation was to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. Quite a few amendments were voted up and down during the long debate, and some made the situation decidedly worse. I don't know that anyone even knew what was in the bill that was finally rejected, as the subject of 'comprehensive reform' was dropped, there was no purpose in studying the rejected bill to really understand it, and it hasn't been discussed much since. - It's SOP for Congress to pass bills few have read and understand well, particularly the more voluminous bills.
And the main 'flaws' in the present immigration situation is/has been the deliberate refusal of cowardly, bought and paid for politicians and bureaucrats to enforce the laws they passed in 1987.