What is the Immigration Reform and Control Act?
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was a law passed in 1986 by the United States Congress that offered legal status to some immigrants who had been living in the United States without authorization. The law, commonly referred to as the Simpson-Mazzoli Act, was meant to both discourage illegal immigration and address the backlog of applications from immigrants already in the country. The law set up a system of sanctions to punish employers who hired undocumented workers. It also provided a path to citizenship for some undocumented residents. Eligible immigrants could become legal permanent residents after they proved they had been living in the United States since before 1982 and met certain other requirements. These immigrants, commonly known as “amnesty applicants,” were required to pay a fine and prove that they were employed or had earned an education. After five years, they could become citizens. In Arizona, IRCA has had a significant impact. The law resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of undocumented immigrants living in the state, with more than 900,000 migrants leaving the state between 1996 and 2008, according to one study. This decrease led to a tighter labor market in some fields and an increase in wages in others. Additionally, immigrants who took advantage of the amnesty provisions and became legal residents have been able to stay in Arizona and contribute to the economy in various ways.
THELAW.TV ofrece respuestas en español a todas las preguntas sobre la ley de inmigración.La Ley de Reforma y Control de Inmigración (Immigration Reform and Control Act, IRCA) fue promulgada en 1986. Esta ley tuvo el objetivo de abordar la inmigración ilegal al estado de Arizona y a otros Estados Unidos. Esta ley ofrece a los inmigrantes indocumentados la oportunidad de obtener la residencia legal y la nacionalidad estadounidense si cumplen ciertos requisitos. La ley IRCA permite que los inmigrantes indocumentados que estén viviendo ilegalmente en el estado de Arizona desde el 1 de enero de 1982 obtengan la residencia legal si cumplen con los requisitos de la ley. Estos requisitos incluyen la demostración de que han vivido continuamente en el territorio de los Estados Unidos, no han cometido ciertos delitos, y han estado trabajando en forma legal. Esta ley ofrece a inmigrantes indocumentados una oportunidad de obtener una residencia legal y un estatus migratorio legal. La ley también aborda el tema de la deportación. Establece que los inmigrantes indocumentados pueden ser deportados si han cometido ciertos delitos especificados en la ley, es decir, delitos graves o si es una amenaza para la seguridad de Estados Unidos. Esta ley también permite la reubicación de inmigrantes indocumentados que pueden estar en una situación de extrema vulnerabilidad en su lugar de origen.
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