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Background as a territory
This is the basic background information of immigration to the Arizona area before it was established as a State. -
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Soldiers in Arizona
Marauding Apaches and other lawless individuals roamed the Arizona deserts and mountains until the mid-
1870s, when numerous army forts decommissioned. During the Civil War, they were reestablished to subdue such unfriendly elements. Soldiers from these forts ended up staying and becoming some of the first prospectors in these areas, generally staking claims after leaving the employ of the U.S. -
Silver Discovered in Tombstone
In 1877 silver was discovered at Tombstone, setting off a boom that drew throngs of prospectors to Arizona. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act restricted immigration of Chinese laborers. It became permenant in 1902 and was not repealed until December 17, 1943. -
1891 Immigration Act
This act was a revised version of the 1888 Immigration Act. It declared that certain classes of individuals were unfit to become American citizens, because they could not take care of themselves. People such as:
-Insane persons
-People with contagious diseases
-Anyone convicted of a felony
-Any person who's ticket was paid for by another. -
Opening of Roosevelt Dam
With the opening of the Roosevelt Dam in 1911, massive irrigation projects transformed Arizona's valleys. This helped provide a sustainability to the ranchers and sheep herders settled in the area, causing less settlers to leave due to crop shortages. -
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After Arizona became a State
This is the history of immigration after Arizona became a State. -
Arizona Border Patrol Established
In July 1924 the Border Patrol was established with the Labor Appropriation Act of 1924. Most rode on horseback. They were basically immigration inspectors. All aliens found and turned in were handed over to these men. -
Estimate of Illegal Mexican Immigrants
US Labor Secretary estimated that 1,000,000 illegal Mexicans were in the United States. -
Bracero Program
The "Bracero" program allowed immigrants, primarily from Mexico, to temporarily work in the US in the agricultural industry during World War II. The agreement between the US and Mexico expired in 1947 yet the practice continued until the formal end of the program in 1964. -
Magnuson Act
The Magnuson Act repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act. The US then created a quota of 105 visas per year for Chinese immigrants. This came into effect after the Japanese made negative references to the Chinese Exclusion Act during World War II in an attempt to weaken the relationship between the US and China. Other laws still made it difficult for the Chinese to enter the US even with the repeal of this one. -
The Displaced Persons Act
The Displaced Persons Act was established after World War II. This allowed Europeans that were in danger because of their race, religion, or political ideology permanent resident status in the US and employment. -
Hart-Cellar Act
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Hart-Cellar Act also known as the Immigration and Nationality Act. This abolished the National Origins Formula, which allowed only 3 countries to supply 70% of the immigrants. The Hart-Cellar Act allows for the immigration of more Asians and less South Americans and Mexicans. This law restricts the total number of immigrants to 170,000 per year, excluding the immediate family of US citizens, who can now enter the US more easily. -
Manzo Area Council
On April 9, 1976, Manzo Area Council in Tucson was raided by Border Patrol and deported 150 out of 200 citizens in the records. Manzo agency then pressed charges on INS and Border Patrol on improper deportation procedures. In the end Manzo dropped the charge and was recognized as a certified voluntary agency. -
The Immigration Reform and Control Act
Signed by Ronald Regan in 1986, this law was passed so that employers are penalized when caught hiring or having undocumented worker. However, it provided about 3 million undocumented people legalization being in the country prior to January 1st 1982. -
The Immigration Act of 1990
Basically it increased the ammount of visas given per year. Before only 500,000 immigrants would be granted visas; now it is 700,000. Additional visas were also granted such as 50,000 diversity visas, 40,000 with jobs whos were permanent, and 65,000 temporary job visas. -
Major Illegal Incarceration
As of March of 1994, it is estimated that 21,395 illegal immigrants were incarcerated in seven major states (Arizona, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York); an annual cost of $471 million. -
SB 1070
In 2010, Arizona’s Gov. Brewer signed the most highly publicized anti-illegal immigration law in the nation. It included a wide range of provisions, including penalties for harboring, hiring or transporting undocumented immigrants. It also made it a misdemeanor for an immigrant to be in Arizona without proper documentation. -
“Gang of Eight” Bill
The “Gang of Eight” bill would strengthen border security, requiring that within five years the Department of Homeland Security set up a system to monitor the entire southern U.S. border and catch 90 percent of the people crossing illegally in designated “high-risk” sectors. The Gang of Eight is a common term for the 8 Senators who drafted the plan, Michael Bennet, Richard J. Durbin, Jeff Flake, Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Bob Menendez, Marco Rubio, and Chuck Schumer. -
DREAM Act
The Dream Act would provide residency for those who have come to the U.S.A.as minors to graduate from U.S. high schools. But, they must have lived here for at least 5 years before the Act was approved.
