Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was enacted in 1986 to control and deter illegal immigration to the United States (U.S.). The major provisions of IRCA stipulate legalization of undocumented aliens who had been continuously unlawfully present since 1982, legalization of certain agricultural workers, sanctions for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers, and increased enforcement at U.S. borders.