Anatomy of a Public Policy: The Reform of Contemporary American Immigration Law

by Michael C. LeMay

Overview

LeMay offers an insightful examination of the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and the Immigration Act of 1990. Using the enactment of immigration policy reform—the most substantial since 1965—he illustrates the various stages of the public policy process. He shows how problems, such as the illegal alien influx, become perceived of as public problems and get on the policy agenda of government. He illustrates the interaction of interest groups and political leadership in the branches of government in the formulation and enactment of policy reform.

By examining this area of public policy—one rich in human interest as well as substantive importance to American politics and public policy—LeMay provides useful insights into the policy process, Congressional decision-making, and the complexity of regulatory policy. This book will be of value to scholars of the immigration process, lawyers and practitioners involved in immigration, students of Congressional decision-making and of the public policy process, and general readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275949020
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/30/1994
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)
Lexile:	1430L (what's this?)

About the Author

MICHAEL C. LeMAY is Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, and Director, National Security Studies Program, California State University, San Bernardino. Among his earlier publications are From Open Door to Dutch Door and The Gatekeepers (Praeger, 1987 and 1989, respectively).

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgments
Problem Formation/Agenda Setting—The Illegal Alien Influx and the Crisis of Border Control
Changes in Immigration Law, 1965
The Dynamic Flow of Immigration: The Changing Nature of the Influx in the 1970s
The "Flood" of Illegal Aliens
The Crisis of Border Control
Policy Formulation—A New Approach to Immigration Policy
Beginnings of the Employer Sanctions Approach to Immigration Policy
The Impact of SCIRP—The Legitimization of the Duality of Employer Sanctions/Legalization
The Simpson-Mazzoli-Rodino Proposals
Policy Adoption—The Passage of IRCA, 1986
Critical Compromises: The Enactment of IRCA in 1986
A Summary of IRCA
Split Congressional Voting Blocs
Explaining Enactment—Conflictual versus Integrative Bargaining
Congressional Policy Strategies and Intent
Policy Implementation—Putting IRCA into Action
Introduction
The Accomplishments of Implementing IRCA
Difficulties in the INS Implementation of IRCA
Intergovernmental Aspects of IRCA
Non-Governmental Agencies and IRCA
Policy Evaluation—An Initial Assessment
Introduction
Employer Sanctions and Discrimination
The Legalization Programs
Improving the INS/Border Patrol
Unanticipated Consequences
Conclusion, Immigration Policy for the 1990s
Introduction
Current Proposals for Immigration Policy Reform
The Immigration Act of 1990
Implications for Future Policy Action
Insights into the Policy Process
Appendix I: List of Interviewees
Appendix II: The Roll Call Votes Enacting IRCA
Appendix III: Analysis of Hispanic Caucus Members Votes on IRCA
Appendix IV: The Roll Call Votes Act of 1990
Appendix V: IRCA Questionnaires
Bibliography
Index