For the Record': History Repeating as 'Amnesty' Precedes Border Security

President Obama's executive immigration action has allowed many people in the United States illegally to stay without fear of deportation, and critics worry it is only making the illegal immigration problem worse.

"It sends a message to people all around the world that if you come on here, we're going to make it OK," said Rep. Steven Pearce (R-N.M.).

Pearce said the "amnesty before border security" model has been tried before -- and with disastrous results.

"The was a mistake President Reagan had made," Pearce said, referring to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. "He had said we will secure the border and we will take away the problem (of people living in the U.S. illegally). He took away the problem, but they never got to securing the border."

He claimed what was a "million person problem in Reagan's day, is now somewhere between 13 and 30 million."

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