During the 1990s and early 2000s, America experienced the emergence of Hispanic immigrants from Mexico and Central America. These Hispanic groups tended to be poor as the majority fell under the poverty line. In addition, many were uneducated which prevented contribution of further economic growth. Although illegal immigrants usually did not obtain a high school education, they became laborers in the fields and factories. This spurred an outrage amongst critics that argued immigrants were fulfilling more jobs than U.S. citizens. As a result, The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was established by President Ronald Reagan as a law that increased U.S. border enforcement and made it a crime for employers to hire undocumented immigrants.
