The Immigrant Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 provided a one-time opportunity for people who had been living in the United States illegally to obtain legal resident status and eventually qualify for citizenship. In order to go from temporary to permanent status, applicants were now required to demonstrate a minimal understanding of English…

This guide to the evaluation of immigrant legalization education programs in agencies approved for State Legalization Impact Assistance Grants (SLIAG) is divided into two parts. The first part describes how an agency's staff members can review their program in terms of quality criteria. Rating criteria and forms are provided for assessing overall…

This document focuses on the requirements of the immigrant amnesty process, which were established by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. Sections focus on the following questions: (1) How can eligible legalized aliens (ELA) fulfill the IRCA educational requirements? (2) What issues are considered in designing and offering an…

This memorandum discusses the need for civics and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction as a result of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986. IRCA provides an opportunity for illegal aliens to obtain legal resident status by successfully completing a test of English proficiency and a test of U.S. history and government, or…

Information concerning the federal regulations governing the basic citizenship skills requirement for immigrant legalization, as amended, is presented. Materials include: (1) a sample memorandum to educational service providers relaying information concerning the requirement; (2) revised requirements and guidelines for courses of study recognized…

This guide is designed to promote and assist in the integration of the civics curriculum, required for immigrant legalization, into the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) curriculum through both curriculum development and program planning. The guide has two major parts. The first part is a listing, in a suggested sequence, of civics/ESL…

Data on the status of education for immigrant amnesty applicants in California under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) are summarized. The amnesty applicants fall into two categories: immigrants who can prove continuous U.S. residency before 1982, and "special agricultural workers" who qualify if they worked in…

The second step of implementation of the legalization program of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) began on November 7, 1988. This second step is the process by which undocumented immigrants, initially granted temporary residence, may adjust to their status change to permanent resident. Certain aspects of the adjustment are…

Forms used at Rio Salado Community College (Arizona) to monitor student progress toward English language and civics requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 are presented. The forms include the following: (1) a checklist of beginning skills in United States government and history and in English reading and writing; (2) a…

An analysis and discussion of regulations in the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act focus on policy issues concerning requirements for language proficiency and knowledge of United States history and government for immigrant amnesty. Five specific issues are addressed: 1) the discriminatory effect of requiring only amnesty applicants to…

The content of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act is described, its current interpretations are examined, and the implications for developing a responsible language and citizenship curriculum to conform to the legislation are discussed. Specific attention is focused on the law's requirement that illegal aliens applying for amnesty and…

The handbook is intended to help programs assist legalized aliens eligible for amnesty meet the education requirements for permanent residency. These requirements include minimal understanding of English and a knowledge and understanding of the history and government of the United States, or pursuit of a course leading to that knowledge. Three…

A study of the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant (SLIAG) program in Illinois, federally funded under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, is presented. The program assists the state in providing English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and civics instruction to help undocumented immigrants meet legal residency requirements. Data were…

This package consists of a curriculum guide, index, and matrix for English as a second language (ESL) programs supported by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA). The curriculum guide contains the following components: (1) an IRCA competency list for ESL beginning- and intermediate-level courses that integrates ESL and civics competencies…

The Houston Community College (Texas) program (TOTAL ACCESS) designed in response to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, is described and evaluated. The program offers classes to eligible aliens (97% Hispanic Americans from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala) wishing to pursue the educational program required for legalization. Program…