Amnesty and Related Programs

In 1986 we had an amnesty program, and the 2000 LIFE Act allows some of the old applicants who were left out to qualify. In 1997 Congress passed the NACARA law, which granted amnesty to certain Cubans and Nicaraguans, and extended the old Suspension remedy for certain Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Soviet bloc citizens. In 1998 Congress passed the HRIFA Act to help certain Haitians who were already in the U.S. These more recent programs are sometimes referred to as "nationality specific" legislation. The Mexican government is advocating for an amnesty program for Mexicans, but presumably, if a new amnesty law is passed, it will not be restricted to just one country.