Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) (United States) (1986)
Because the measure was meant as a one-time resolution of a longstanding problem, a strict deadline for application was established: All applications for legalization were required within one year of May 5, 1987. At the insistence of state governments, newly legalized aliens were prohibited from receiving most types of federal public welfare, although Cubans (see Cuban immigration) and Haitians (see Haitian immigration) were exempted. By the end of the filing period, about 1.7 million people had applied for general legalization, and about 1.4 million as special agricultural workers. Of the successful applicants, almost 70 percent were from Mexico and more than 90 percent from the Western Hemisphere. The measure was not highly effective in curbing employment of illegal aliens, as officials were prohibited from interfering with workers in the field without a search warrant.