The new immigration laws : a conversation with U.S. Commissioner Alan Nelson

In 1986 Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act, a piece of legislation which, in an attempt to stem the flood of illegal immigration to the United States, made it illegal for businesses to knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The law also included a provision providing amnesty for illegal immigrants who had been living in the U.S. for at least five years, sparking complaints that the new legislation was in effect rewarding immigrants who broke the law at the expense of those who immigrated legally. In this episode, host Peter Krogh sits down with Alan Nelson, Commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, to discuss the implications of the new immigration laws, including their effect on American businesses and whether they will be effective in controlling illegal immigration.