Several momentous immigration bills became effective on October 1, 1996 (though some provisions of those laws had an effective date of April 1, 1997). These include the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA), the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Welfare Act) and the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA). All of these major pieces of legislation in 1996 have had devastating, long-term effects on the status of immigrants in the U.S.
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Although there was a general conception that many of these laws would primarily affect illegal aliens, some of these laws have proven to have tremendous impact on legal non-immigrants, as well as on lawful permanent residents or Green Card holders. Until the 1996 laws, Green Card holders have been enjoying more or less the same rights as those of U.S. citizens. No longer. Some of the new laws have had a dramatic impact, restricting welfare benefits for lawful permanent residents as well as making them more vulnerable to deportation (or removal) for crimes committed long ago.
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Public opinion shifted and even the INS Commissioner at the time, Doris Meissner, stated in newspaper editorials published in March of 1999 that the 1996 laws went too far.  Several bills in Congress to ameliorate the harsh effects of these laws have gained bipartisan support and are likely to be considered in the future.

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