Immigration Reform and Control Act

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), enacted in 1986, aimed to address illegal immigration in the United States. It provided a pathway to legal status for certain undocumented immigrants who had resided in the country since before 1982. At the same time, IRCA imposed penalties on employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers and required them to verify employees' work eligibility. The act was designed to balance the need for security and enforcement with the acknowledgment of immigrants already contributing to American society. Ultimately, it sought to reform immigration policy for a more orderly and fair system.