why was the immigrant responsibility act of 1996 enacted? Can someone help me find specific facts of how bad immigration really was

I think illegal immigration was an ongoing problem. I didn't find any specifics about how "bad" it was -- but it's natural for any country to want to enforce its laws.

These sites may help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_Immigration_Reform_and_Immigrant_Responsibility_Act_of_1996

(Broken Link Removed)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_immigration_to_the_United_States

i guess im trying to say why this act was needed. was there a great problem that caused it to go into effect?

It looks as though there was an increase in Mexican immigrants in the 90s. As the U.S. economy prospered, more low-paid workers were needed to produce our food.

Check out these sites.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Mexico+immigration+90s

The Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996, officially known as the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), was enacted in response to concerns over illegal immigration and its impact on various aspects of the United States. It aimed to strengthen immigration enforcement, discourage illegal immigration, and streamline legal immigration processes.

To find specific facts about immigration during that time period, there are several sources you can explore:

1. Government Reports and Statistics: Government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), publish reports and statistics on immigration. These sources provide data on various immigration-related topics, such as visa issuance, deportation, unauthorized immigration estimates, and more. Visit their official websites and search for relevant reports and statistics.

2. Congressional Records: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) produces reports for Congress on different issues, including immigration. Searching through CRS reports can provide valuable insights into the context and statistics related to immigration at the time the Immigration Responsibility Act was enacted. You can visit the official CRS website or use the websites of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives to access congressional records.

3. Academic Research Papers: Scholarly articles and research papers can offer in-depth analysis and data on immigration. Websites like JSTOR, Google Scholar, and academic databases like ProQuest and EBSCOhost allow you to search for such research papers by using keywords like "immigration," "1996," or "IIRIRA."

4. News Sources and Archives: Newspapers, both national and local, often cover immigration-related issues extensively. Searching through news archives from 1996-1997 can provide you with specific facts, events, and opinions about the state of immigration during that time. Websites like LexisNexis, ProQuest News, and newspaper archives, such as The New York Times Archive, can be helpful.

Remember, it is important to critically evaluate the sources you come across, considering their credibility, relevance, and potential bias. Analyzing multiple sources will help you attain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.