The last time Congress passed expansive immigration reform was in 1986 – nearly 36 years ago. A lot has changed in those 36 years – from smartphones to social media to the cost of a dozen eggs, our economy and the world we live in has evolved considerably since President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 into law.  

To shine a light on just how much things have changed since the last time Congress passed meaningful reform, we put together a quick quiz for you to test your knowledge of 1986.

Unfortunately, as the quiz shows, our immigration policies are still stuck in the past – and it's past time for Congress to act to provide permanent legal protections and other needed reforms for Dreamers, agricultural workers, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders; and adopt a modern approach to securing our border – addressing the urgent need for secure, orderly, and compassionate processing. 

Take our quiz and tell your Senators to support meaningful, constructive and bipartisan immigration reforms. 

Our outdated approach to immigration has major implications: The U.S. economy grew at its slowest pace in history in 2021, thanks partially to the decrease in immigration – net migration levels have fallen by about 75% since 2016.  Immigrants not only fill critical roles in our work force, but also help grow it: immigrants have launched nearly 50% of U.S. billion-dollar start-ups. We could grow our population, our economy, and enrich our communities by modernizing our immigration system.  

Take the quiz and test your 1986 knowledge – then tell your Senator to bring our immigration policies into the 21st century.

Thanks for all you do to help us pass meaningful, bipartisan immigration reform! 

Joanna Taylor  
Senior Communications Manager  
National Immigration Forum