We hear a lot of political talk about illegal immigration and there is a lot of misinformation on the subject, everywhere. So first I would like to summarize the Immigration Reform and Control Act, enacted November 6, 1986, and signed into law by Ronald Reagan on November 6, 1986, which reformed U.S. immigration law.
The Act:required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status; made it illegal to hire or recruit illegal immigrants knowingly; legalized certain seasonal agricultural undocumented immigrants, and; legalized undocumented immigrants who entered the United States before January 1, 1982 and had resided there continuously subject to conditions.
Then I want to recommend the Atlantic magazine article by David From about immigration. It is a very nice piece and I do not think it talks enough about going after employers, like Walmart, Swift & Co. and Tysons Foods, who hire illegal immigrants. (you may be able to think of another company hiring illegals; hint: golf courses.) Maybe enforcement against employers needs to be expanded or the penalties on corporations for violation needs to be increased or both.
The link is to the Atlantic article.