Boehner fired back at some conservatives who have likened the GOP principles to amnesty. “The GOP leadership outline called for granting legal status . . . to many . . . who are currently living in the U.S. illegally under certain conditions. Those include admitting their immigration violation, passing background checks, paying fines and back taxes. ‘Some want to call it amnesty,’ Boehner said. ‘I reject that premise . . . If you come in and pay a fine, that’s not amnesty.” – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Cincinnati Inquirer 3/4/14
Fact Check: It is understandable why Boehner wants to deny that giving legal status to illegal aliens is amnesty. That word has many bad associations, most notably with the amnesty of 1986, which granted legal status and pathway to citizenship to almost three million illegal aliens. In terms of what it promised, specifically better immigration law enforcement and an end to illegal immigration, the law was a total failure.
Boehner claims, like many others who try to avoid the amnesty label, that it is not amnesty if illegal aliens have to meet various requirements before getting legal status. But the no one denies that the 1986 legislation was amnesty. Edwin Meese, the U.S. attorney general at that time, stated later, “Indeed, the legislation stipulated several conditions: immigrants had to pay application fees, learn to speak English, understand American civics, pass a medical exam and register for military selective service. Those with convictions for a felony or three misdemeanors were ineligible.”
Yes, what Boehner describes is amnesty, and it’s pretty clear that he will promote it this year if he sees the opportunity. In January he endorsed a set of principles for “immigration reform” including legalization. Later, after strong pressure from Republican House members, Boehner said that an amnesty would not happen this year. Those members, however, should pay heed to Boehner’s recent meeting with President Obama. The House Speaker said that immigration was a key area of agreement at the meeting. Said Boehner, “He wants to get it done. I want to get it done.”
Citizens who oppose amnesty and support the rule of law cannot afford to take their eyes off Boehner. Otherwise he just might “get it done.”