Reagan and Immigration Reform - Reagan Era

This is what President Reagan said in a 1984 debate with former Vice President Walter Mondale when it came to Immigration Reform, " But it is true our borders are out of control. It is also true that this has been a situation on our borders back through a number of administrations. And I supported this bill. I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even though sometime back they may have entered illegally....With regard to the employer sanctions, we must have that not only to ensure that we can identify the illegal aliens,..and these are employers down through the years who have encouraged the illegal entry into this country because they then hire these individuals and hire them at starvation wages and with none of the benefits that we think are normal and natural for workers in our country, and the individuals can't complain because of their illegal status. We don't think that those people should be allowed to continue operating free. "*  In 1986 President Reagan singed the Immigration reform Act in to law, the President stated the following, " In 1981 this administration asked the Congress to pass a comprehensive legislative package, including employer sanctions, other measures to increase enforcement of the immigration laws, and legalization. The act provides these three essential components. Distance has not discouraged illegal immigration to the United States from all around the globe. The problem of illegal immigration should not, therefore, be seen as a problem between the United States and its neighbors. Our objective is only to establish a reasonable, fair, orderly, and secure system of immigration into this country and not to discriminate in any way against particular nations or people.....Future generations of Americans will be thankful for our efforts to humanely regain control of our borders and thereby preserve the value of one of the most sacred possessions of our people: American citizenship. ".**  Thus this blog supports the move to reform US Immigration, the Republicans should follow the advice of the Gipper when it comes to such matters, he did win a few elections folks. 

* Debate Between the President and Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale in Kansas City, Missouri October 21, 1984 " The Public Papers of President Ronald W. Reagan.  Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

** " Remarks on Signing the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, November 6, 1986  " The Public Papers of President Ronald W. Reagan.  Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.