In 1986 Congress enacted a compromise immigration bill. For advocates of border control it provided criminal penalties for employers who knowingly hired illegal aliens. For illegal alien advocates, it gave legal status and a path to citizenship for millions of illegal aliens.
The “compromise” proved to be one sided. Prosecution of employers who hire illegals has been rare. Since passage of the bill, the annual number of employer prosecutions has seldom exceeded 15 a year. From April 2018 to March 2019, only 11 individuals were charged.
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