Immigration Amnesty

The information below was part of the proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill that was previously debated in the United States senate. This legislation has not been approved. The measure, the biggest rewrite of U.S. immigration law since 1986, would offer 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship while tightening the border with Mexico and creating a guest-worker program to help employers fill low-paying jobs.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) was enacted by Congress in response to the large and rapidly growing illegal alien population in the United States. The final bill was the result of a dramatic compromise between those who wanted to reduce illegal immigration into the United States and those who wanted to "wipe the slate clean" for those illegals already living here by granting them legal residence. As enacted, IRCA included a massive amnesty program for two main categories of illegal aliens: 1) those who could show that they had resided illegally in the United States continuously since at least January 1, 1982; and 2) those who had worked as agricultural workers for at least 90 days between May 1, 1985 and May 1, 1986.

The Late Amnesty of 2000, allowed certain groups of illegal aliens, to renew their request for amnesty. Specifically this Amnesty Bill was for those who had been told that they were not eligible for permanent residency under the Immigration and Reform Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. Applicants had to prove that they entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and resided continuously in the United States in an unlawful status until May 4, 1988, and that they were continuously present in the United States from November 6, 1986, until May 4, 1988. The Late Amensty Bill of 2000 gave approximately 400,000 illegal aliens a green card.

The proposed immigration amnesty would benefit the 12 to 20 million undocumented aliens (illegal immigrants) currently living in the United States. An amnesty for illegal aliens forgives their acts of illegal immigration and implicitly forgives other related illegal acts such as driving and working with false documents. The result of an amnesty is that large numbers of foreigners who illegally gained entry into the United States are rewarded with legal status (Green Card) for breaking immigration laws.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. USCIS will secure America’s promise as a nation of immigrants by providing accurate and useful information to our customers, granting immigration and citizenship benefits, promoting an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system.

An amnesty for illegal aliens forgives their act of illegal immigration and implicitly forgives other related illegal acts such as driving and working using false documents. The result of an amnesty is that large numbers of foreigners who illegally gained entry into the United States are rewarded with legal status for their breaking the law. In January, 2004 President Bush Proposed an earned legalization program for illegal aliens. This is an amnesty under another name.

We are dedicated to fighting against illegal immigration and amnesty for illegal aliens and seek a peaceful solution to the crisis that involves Americans of every race, Party, and denomination working together. Americans for Legal Immigration (ALI-PAC) has formed to address the disparity between the public's desire for more control of illegal immigration and the actions of lawmakers. Varied polls indicate that over 75% of America's legal citizens want more done to control illegal immigration, yet the elected officials who are willing to address this concern constitute a minority of members in the US Congress and Senate at this time. This must change.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) is a national, nonprofit, public-interest, membership organization of concerned citizens who share a common belief that our nation's immigration policies must be reformed to serve the national interest.

This site, besides mocking the term undocumented, is an illegal immigration primer whose goal is to provide information on illegal immigration prevention, enforcement, and attrition.

Welcome to Amnesty International USA's (AIUSA) newsroom. Our media team is happy to supply you with additional resources, including interviews with specialists, detailed event information, and expert quotes, upon request.

The United States Immigration Newsletter is a free monthly service provided by the U.S. Immigration Support. The U.S. Immigration Newsletter is a monthly publication. It is available online on this website and as an email mailing list. Its content is carefully researched for every issue and provides the latest news and information regarding immigration to the United States. The U.S. Immigration Newsletter covers immigration laws, changes on filling procedures, immigration-related news from across the country, and the growing issue of illegal immigration to the United States.