Definition of Immigration Amnesty
Contemporary immigration amnesty first came to the forefront in U.S. politics in the early to mid-1980s during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. At that time, the definition of immigration amnesty took a form that was more consistent with the concept of amnesty developed historically. Reagan granted essentially a blanket amnesty to about 3 to 4 million individuals who were in the country illegally but who were not known to be guilty of any other crimes. Since the turn of the 21st century, however, amnesty as it is applied to immigration issues and statuses has taken on a less structured definition.
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History
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Amnesty as a legal concept traces its origins to ancient Greece. Amnesty in a pure form, and as it essentially was applied to illegal immigrants in the United States in 1980s, references putting individuals back into a legal status by government action. Some individuals do espouse this position today, but many more people argue for what might be best called qualified amnesty or no amnesty whatsoever for illegal immigrants.
Significance
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Identifying accurately the number of men, women and children who live in the United States illegally is not possible. In the immigration policy debate, the figure of 12 million people in the country illegally is used frequently. Nonetheless, there are proponents and opponents of immigration amnesty who agree on one item: the 12 million person mark is low. No matter the actual total, a considerable number of individuals are directly affected by any ultimate policy pertaining to illegal immigration and amnesty.
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Blanket Amnesty
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A segment of individuals involved in the issue maintain that the proper approach is to grant undocumented individuals in this nation a blanket amnesty. (Again, this is amnesty in the true sense of the word.) The only exception is if an individual is guilty of committing some other crime beyond entering and living in the country in violation of the law. There are two schools of thought that support this approach. First, there are some economists who maintain that the population of undocumented workers is so large that removing them from the country would have a detrimental effect on the economy. Second, there are others who take the blanket amnesty approach for essentially humanitarian reasons (keeping families together).
Path to Citizenship
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Another approach to immigration amnesty can best be identified by the concept of path to citizenship. Under the common understanding of this approach to amnesty, an individual who is in the United States illegally returns to his or her country of origin and applies for citizenship through proper channels. There are different variations on this theme. Oftentimes, this proposal includes a fast-track provision that would accelerate the process through which an individual who has been in the country can be legalized.
No Amnesty
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There is a vocal and powerful segment in and out of government that maintains that no amnesty should be granted to individuals in the country unlawfully. The thrust of this argument is that men and women in the country illegally are law-breakers. Granting them amnesty or even a modified amnesty is penalizing individuals who are attempting to enter the United States legally.
Blurred Boundaries
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Most polarizing political issues can be divided between Republicans and Democrats or liberals and conservatives. Immigration amnesty is one of the most polarizing issues of the 21st century. There are individuals from both parties and from across the political spectrum that favor a more blanket amnesty, modified amnesty or no amnesty whatsoever.
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