Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA)

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRAIRA) revised the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The changes restricted the availability of suspension of deportation - the remedy traditionally available to deportable aliens who resided in the U.S. for considerable periods of time. Under previous law, suspension could be granted, at the discretion of the immigration judge, to an alien who had been present in the United States for seven years, shown good moral character, and demonstrated that deportation would cause “extreme hardship” to the alien or to a spouse, parent, or child who is a lawful permanent resident or a U.S. citizen.