The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

Question

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The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 introduced penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers, in an attempt to deter illegal immigration by removing potential job opportunities. It did not permit illegal immigrants to attend American schools or require immigrants to learn English as a condition of citizenship, although it did offer a path to citizenship for some undocumented individuals. While the act did not restrict access to education for illegal immigrants, it did prohibit them from receiving certain types of federal public benefits. The act did not provide for the wholesale roundup and deportation of all illegal immigrants living in the United States, but it did authorize increased enforcement of immigration laws and increased funding for border security.