Final answer:
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 mandates that new employees must complete an I-9 form at the time of hire to verify their identity and work authorization in the U.S. Employers must ensure the legal work status of their employees and are penalized for hiring undocumented workers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires every new employee, at the time of hire, to fill out an I-9 form. This document is used to verify the identity of employees and confirm their eligibility to work in the United States legally. The enactment of this law was primarily in response to the increased number of undocumented immigrants, notably following the devaluation of the Mexican currency in the 1980s. Employers who fail to comply with this requirement and knowingly hire undocumented workers are subject to fines.
The purpose of the I-9 form is to discourage illegal immigration and protect the rights of legal immigrants by prohibiting the hiring of illegal immigrants. Employers must request proof of citizenship or legal residency to verify an employee's right to work in the country. In addition to addressing employment, the law also provided amnesty to certain groups of illegal residents who had arrived in the United States before a specific date. While the law aimed to control illegal employment, it also led to some unintended consequences such as discriminatory hiring practices against those perceived as “foreign-looking”.