What we know of Ronald Reagan is that he had to compromise with a Democratic Congress in order to build up the military, fight the Commies around the world, and win the Cold War, as well as deregulate, cut taxes, and turn the economy around.
I believe that this was the best Reagan could do on immigration under the circumstances and Bush 1 never followed through on this or built upon it, Clinton wouldn't and either is Bush 2.
I find it hard to believe that Reagan didn't care about illegal immigration. It's up to the presidents that are elected afterwards to make sure the laws of the land are executed.
I do know that Bush 1 didn't enforce these laws, Clinton wouldn't, and Bush 2 isn't.
Ronald Reagan couldn't do everything in 8 years.
No, Reagan couldn't do everything and since he had THREE major goals, illegal aliens NOT being one of them, he did what he could, with what he had going for him. That is NOT the point.
The point is, that since Eisenhower, not a single president has done much about illegals and the Southern border.
What's far worse, though, is that at the local level, where things SHOULD be done, what has been done, in most places, is to encourage illegals, by making certain towns and cities "SANCTUARIES" and having some local governments make it illegal for anyone to turn in illegals to the INS/ICE.