Ronald Reagan Consistently Supported Legalization of the Immigrant

  “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even though some time back they may have entered illegally.” So said Ronald Reagan during a presidential debate.

  Then, you might recall, when he was elected, he signed an amnesty bill, freeing three million immigrants to continue living in the United States. Not to say the bill did not strive to do other things, not so friendly to immigrants, such as secure the borders.

  “We have consistently supported a legalization program,” Reagan said at the time of the new legislation. “The legalization provisions in this act will go far to improve the lives of a class of individuals who now must hide in the shadows, without access to many of the benefits of a free and open society. Very soon many of these men and women will be able to step into the sunlight.”