Down under Amnesties: Background,Programs and Comparative Insights 1

Abstract

Australia, proportionately, accepts more immigrants than the United States and, consequently, immigrants and immigration policy carry a greater impact there, than in the United States. Although Australia's location limits its experience with undocumented migrants, there have been enough of them to cause Australia to conduct three alien legalization programs in 1973, 1976 and 1980. Australia's small-scale programs, by U.S. standards, provide some useful lessons to the U.S.