Houston Chronicle by Elizabeth Trovall 1/17/2023
How Biden's big border plan measures up against his predecessorsPresident Biden's immigration plan is the latest in decades of new policies attempting to deal with shifting demographics and needs at the border.
The more than 2.3 southwest million border encounters broke records in 2022. Prior administrations have faced ebbs and flows in migration along the southwest border.
Here’s how other administrations have handled these evolving needs over time.
1980
Congress passes the Refugee Act of 1980
Following the Vietnam War, the annual ceiling for refugees is raised to 50,000. The federal government has the flexibility to fluctuate refugee caps based on need.
1980
Mariel boatlift
Some 125,000 Cuban asylum seekers arrive on U.S. soil after fleeing their country.
1986
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
A bipartisan bill grants amnesty to 2.7 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. Congress cracks down on employers for hiring undocumented immigrants but also expands the guestworker visa program. A Reagan era bill increases funding for border enforcement, yet the tide of illegal border crossings continues to grow.
More:
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/2023/biden-border-policy-us-immigration-timeline/
