Amnesty & Legalization Programs
The U.S. has periodically created pathways to legal status for undocumented immigrants. These programs directly affect immigration court caseloads — reducing them when legalization is broad, and increasing them when programs expire or are challenged.
Major Legalization Programs
Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) — 1986
The largest amnesty in U.S. history. Signed by President Reagan, it legalized approximately 2.7 million undocumented immigrants who had been continuously present since January 1, 1982. Also included a Special Agricultural Workers (SAW) program for farmworkers.
NACARA — 1997
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act provided paths to permanent residence for Nicaraguans, Cubans, and certain Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Eastern Europeans. Our data shows 9,665,247 total court cases — NACARA removed thousands from the deportation pipeline.
DACA — 2012
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protects immigrants who arrived as children from deportation and provides work authorization. Currently 515,570 active recipients. Not a path to citizenship — just temporary protection that must be renewed every two years.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Grants temporary protection to nationals of designated countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. Currently covers ~320,000 people from 16 countries including Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador, and Ukraine.
The Backlog Connection
Every person who receives legalization is one fewer case in the immigration court system. Conversely, when programs like DACA or TPS are terminated, recipients can be placed into removal proceedings — adding to the 1,907,436 pending cases.
The absence of comprehensive immigration reform since 1986 is a major driver of the current backlog. Without a legal pathway, millions of undocumented immigrants remain in a system that can only process them through courts staffed by 1,409 judges across 88 courts.
Why It Matters
The debate over amnesty is fundamentally a debate about the backlog. With 1,907,436 pending cases, the system cannot process everyone through courts. Legalization programs reduce caseloads; enforcement-only approaches increase them. Neither side disputes the math — only the policy response.