WHERE THE CANDIDATES STAND ON: IMMIGRATION

Background: Immigration laws were overhauled by two pieces of legislation--a 1986 act granting amnesty to thousands of longtime illegal alien residents, and a 1990 act that allowed those with families already in the United States to enter the country. In an effort to stem border crossing, the acts expanded the border patrol and increased sanctions on employers who hire undocumented immigrants. But illegal immigration has continued, especially along the California-Mexico border.

President Bush signed the 1990 Immigration Act. He since has asked for more money and personnel for the Border Patrol, in part to combat drug-trafficking. He has called for legislation to deny entry to individuals convicted of drug felonies.

Patrick J. Buchanan calls for digging a trench along the border and using the military to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, which he contends compounds social and economic problems in California and threatens to turn the United States into a “Third World nation.” Buchanan believes that the Constitution should be amended to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the U.S. to illegal aliens.

Bill Clinton strongly supported the 1990 Immigration Bill, especially the section on unifying families. He supports efforts to strengthen the border patrol, but also contends that improving the economy of Mexico is the ultimate answer to reducing illegal immigration.

Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. argues that immigration has been the lifeblood of the country and that immgrants have been made a scapegoat for recent economic problems. With a policy of “caring, and elegance and innovation and creativity . . . we can make room for everyone,” he says.

Immigration arrests along the Mexican border

1980: 759,420 1981: 825,290 1982: 819,919 1983: 1,033,985 1984: 1,057,777 1985: 1,183,455 1986: 1,615,854 1987: 1,122,067 1988: 943,063 1989: 854,128 1990: 1,049,680 Source: Immigration and Naturalization Service