--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one believed [the 1986 amnesty for…" description: "\"No one believed [the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens] was tough enough on illegal immigration, and it didn't give enough flexibility on future legal im..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/charles-schumer-10224_aliens_no-one-believed-the-1986-amnesty-for-ill_205963.jpg" --- # No one believed \[the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens\] was… ![“No one believed [the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens] was tough enough on illegal immigration, and it didn't give enough flexibility on future legal immigration.” quote by Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/charles-schumer-10224_aliens_no-one-believed-the-1986-amnesty-for-ill_205963.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/charles-schumer-10224_aliens_no-one-believed-the-1986-amnesty-for-ill_205963.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/charles-schumer-10224_aliens_no-one-believed-the-1986-amnesty-for-ill_205963.jpg) > “No one believed \[the 1986 amnesty for illegal aliens\] was tough enough on illegal immigration, and it didn't give enough flexibility on future legal immigration.” [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The 1986 amnesty was insufficiently strict and lacked adaptability for future immigration policy, suggesting the need for stronger, more flexible measures. **In simple terms:** 1986 amnesty was too lenient and inflexible. Key Takeaway Strengthen and adapt immigration laws. Themes policy immigration legislation flexibility security Mood concerned determined Type policy analytical When to use this quote - drafting new bills - public hearings - immigration enforcement - policy evaluation Key Concepts law public policy governmental oversight Questions to Reflect On - How can legislation balance security and compassion? - What mechanisms ensure future flexibility? A Different Perspective Political opposition may block reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1986 Amnesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1986-amnesty-2137735/) [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Amnesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty/) [Amnesty Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amnesty-illegal-622959/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Flexibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexibility/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal/) [Illegal aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-aliens/) [Illegal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal-immigration/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Immigration Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration-didn-2137734/) [Legal immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-immigration/) [Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tough/) ## Related quotes > [You want to trace California's move to the far left, you go back to the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill. Simpson-Mazzoli was where we granted amnesty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-want-to-trace-california-s-move-to-the-far-left-you-go-back-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ No. 1, it \[amnesty for illegal aliens\] demoralizes the people that are going through the legal process. It's a very clear signal that why… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/no-1-it-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens-demoralizes-the-people-that-are/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [ I've always said that the 1986 \[Immigration Reform and Control\] Act had a fourth leg \[in addition to law enforcement, increased immigration and amnesty\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-c-ting/i-ve-always-said-that-the-1986-immigration-reform-and-control-act-had/) [Jan C. Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) > [...we will not grant amnesty to illegal aliens in this Congress or, hopefully ever again. We did that once. Everybody said it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-gramm/we-will-not-grant-amnesty-to-illegal-aliens-in-this-congress-or/) [Phil Gramm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-gramm/) > [We went 60 years or more with no immigration, folks. It can be done. The only reason that it started up again, Ted Kennedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-went-60-years-or-more-with-no-immigration-folks-it-can-be-done-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Let's help take back our country with our wallets, and don't forget to contact your senators and congressman to let them know that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cuccinelli/let-s-help-take-back-our-country-with-our-wallets-and-don-t-forget-to/) [Ken Cuccinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cuccinelli/) > [We will break the cycle of amnesty and illegal immigration. There will be no amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-break-the-cycle-of-amnesty-and-illegal-immigration-there-will/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [ We are trying to identify employers that might be \[hiring illegal aliens\] and to take effective action against them. We're trying to make sure… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reno/we-are-trying-to-identify-employers-that-might-be-hiring-illegal/) [Janet Reno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reno/) > [In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/in-the-first-place-we-should-insist-that-if-the-immigrant-who-comes-3/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/there-can-be-no-divided-allegiance-here-any-man-who-says-he-is-an/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [...you're never going to have a legal immigration system that works if you grant amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/you-re-never-going-to-have-a-legal-immigration-system-that-works-if/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [We for sure need to secure the border. I think we need to enforce the legal system. I'm not for amnesty, I'm not an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-walker/we-for-sure-need-to-secure-the-border-i-think-we-need-to-enforce-the/) [Scott Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-walker/) > [I support legal immigration. I don't support amnesty because it is not fair to people standing in line at consulates around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-wilson/i-support-legal-immigration-i-don-t-support-amnesty-because-it-is-not/) [Heather Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-wilson/) > [I oppose amnesty, I oppose citizenship, I oppose legalization for illegal aliens. I always have and I always will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-oppose-amnesty-i-oppose-citizenship-i-oppose-legalization-for/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [Republicans rejected calls for amnesty and we've fought efforts to provide illegal aliens with taxpayer funded benefits. The American people are far closer to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsha-blackburn/republicans-rejected-calls-for-amnesty-and-we-ve-fought-efforts-to/) [Marsha Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsha-blackburn/) ## More by Charles Schumer > [When the President starts talking about something, it makes a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-the-president-starts-talking-about-something-it-makes-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [When a nominee doesn't get 60 votes, you shouldn't change the rules, you should change the nominee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-a-nominee-doesn-t-get-60-votes-you-shouldn-t-change-the-rules/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [If you talk privately to our tech companies, our pharmaceutical companies, our high-end manufacturing companies, the high end of America, where the good-paying jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/if-you-talk-privately-to-our-tech-companies-our-pharmaceutical/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [Donald Trump, when he gives his speeches, talks like a populist. And he talks to middle class and working America and poor people. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/donald-trump-when-he-gives-his-speeches-talks-like-a-populist-and-he/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [Unfortunately, the administration's plan is an ounce of cure for a pound of problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/unfortunately-the-administration-s-plan-is-an-ounce-of-cure-for-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [When I started to get involved in the crime issue, people said, "it's a local issue." I said, "No, there are lots of ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-i-started-to-get-involved-in-the-crime-issue-people-said-it-s-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [ This bill \[Immigration Reform and Control act of 1986\] is a gamble, a riverboat gamble. There is no guarantee that employer sanctions will work… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/this-bill-immigration-reform-and-control-act-of-1986-is-a-gamble-a/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [This is government's primary function - to keep us safe - and when large percentages in America don't feel safe, they start asking: What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/this-is-government-s-primary-function-to-keep-us-safe-and-when-large/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [What I want to do first with education is my student loan idea. Basically, if you go into teaching and teach for five years,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/what-i-want-to-do-first-with-education-is-my-student-loan-idea/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [Candidates With Deeply Held Christian Beliefs Are Unfit and Disqualified From Serving As A Federal Judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/candidates-with-deeply-held-christian-beliefs-are-unfit-and/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [Democratic Rep. Charles Schumer of New York made a plea to Livingston, the incoming speaker. These new hearings, these new subpoenas wave a red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/democratic-rep-charles-schumer-of-new-york-made-a-plea-to-livingston/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [When Mitt Romney says he wants to reform the tax code, hold on to your wallets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-mitt-romney-says-he-wants-to-reform-the-tax-code-hold-on-to-your/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [What we are going to do as Democrats is put together a really strong platform that focuses on jobs and economic issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/what-we-are-going-to-do-as-democrats-is-put-together-a-really-strong/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) > [President Trump ought to realize, he's not campaigning anymore. He's president. 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