The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 is an American law that was created in order to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, which was seen as a threat to the economy. The IRCA established financial and other severe penalties for those employing illegal aliens, because it was assumed that not as many people would be attracted to enter the U.S. illegally if the prospects for employment were low. However, illegal aliens who had already worked and lived in the U.S. since January 1982 were eligible to apply for regularization of status (sometimes referred to as amnesty) and eventually full citizenship. To enforce the IRCA, the Border Patrol between Mexico and the United States was intensified.