Amnesty and Citizenship Invite More Lawbreaking

In 1986 Congress passed the first
amnesty for illegal aliens. It gave them legal status and the pathway to
citizenship. Its supporters said that it would be “inhumane” to require
illegals to go home. They promised, however, there would never be another
amnesty, and that strict enforcement would follow in the future.

Said Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): “In
fact, a compromise was agreed to back in 1986. There was a solemn vow that we
would bring up amnesty one time, once, and only once, and there would be no
more amnesty.” Congressional Record, H 8632, 10/2/90.

The 1986 amnesty legalized three
million illegal aliens, but contrary to the promises, more amnesties followed with
little effective enforcement. By rewarding lawbreaking, we encouraged more
lawbreaking. By 2006, according to the Department of Homeland Security, a total
of 12 million illegal aliens were living in the U.S. In response to this situation,
prominent members of Congress that year and the following year proposed another
mass amnesty—along with promises to control the border. Remembering the
betrayals following 1986, outraged citizens stopped the proposed amnesties.

Even if enforcement did follow
amnesty, we would still be sending a mixed message: America will make it harder for you
to get in, but if you do you can stay and be a citizen. Once again, to reward a
behavior is to encourage it.