25 Years is enough: Our Country Needs Comprehensive immigration Reform Now!

Twenty-five years ago President Ronald Reagan signed into law what is known today as the first large-scale immigration legalization program in U.S. history. Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), signed in November 1986, marked a significant shift in immigration policy.
For the first time in history, a Republican President, a Republican Senate and a Democratic House passed a bipartisan law to prevent future waves of undocumented immigrants. IRCA came to be known as the “three-legged stool” law and included provisions that increased border enforcement, penalized employers who hired unauthorized workers and created a path to legalization for the millions of people who had been in the United States for at least 5 years. The three components were seen as essential ingredients to solve the problem of undocumented migration; however, IRCA proved to be a one-time solution that failed to recognize the vibrant contributions that immigrants bring to this country.
Despite concerns about the enforcement provisions in the law from immigrant rights advocates, civil rights advocates, employers, unions, among others, IRCA legalized the immigration status of an estimated 2.7 million people, many of which have become naturalized citizens and are eager to vote in the upcoming presidential elections. Unfortunately, IRCA also institutionalized provisions that further incriminated the immigrant community and paved the way for the tough enforcement tactics we continue to fight today. Programs such as E-verify and I-9 audits, along with a strong militarization of the border are products of IRCA that have failed to solve our broken immigration system, and instead criminalize the act of coming to this country in search of the American Dream.
According to the Department of Homeland security, 11.6 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States.[1] Our broken immigration system is to blame for separating families, violating human rights and creating a culture that discriminates against foreign-born workers.  Harsh immigration laws that focus solely on enforcement perpetuate racism and hate toward immigrant families. All immigrants, regardless of immigration status, contribute to our economy, social fabric and cultural identity.