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The Naturalization Act of 1790
The Naturalization Act of 1790 was the first law Congress passed that regarded who should be granted U.S. citizenship. This act allowed "any free white person of good character, " who has been living in the U.S. for at least two years to apply for citizenship. -
Know-Nothing Party
The Know-Nothing Party was America's first anti-immigrant political party. The party protested the rising numbers of Irish and German immigrants. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Starting in the 1850's, a consistent flow of Chinese workers had immigrated to America. Later in 1882 when the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, Chinese immigrants were prevented from entering the U.S. -
The Immigration Act of 1891
The Immigration Act of 1891 prevented polygamists, those guilty of certain crimes, and anyone sick or diseased from entering the U.S. The act also made immigration enforcement more coordinated. -
Ellis Island
The U.S.'s first immigration station opens in New York Harbor. Millions of immigrants have entered Ellis Island. -
The Gentlemen's Agreement
Due to the rising number of Japanese workers in search of jobs and wages, the U.S. and Japan signed an agreement to limit Japanese emigration. This agreement also would urge San Francisco to end the segregation between Japanese and white students. -
Immigration Act of 1917
As xenophobia reaches new highs due to the U.S.'s involvement in WWI, an Immigration Act is put in place to require any immigrants to take a literary test in order to enter the U.S. -
U.S. Border Patrol
Following the Immigration Act of 1924, the U.S. Border Patrol is established to catch any illegal immigrants that have crossed the border into the U.S. -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 would put a limit to the amount of immigrants entering the U.S. through yearly quotas. The Act would favor and exclude immigrants from different areas. -
Bracero Program
Due to labor shortages during WWII, the U.S. and Mexico created a temporary program called the Bracero Program. This program allowed Mexican agricultural workers to temporarily enter the U.S. for work. -
McCarran-Walter Act
Asian immigrants exclusion from the Immigration Act of 1924 resulted in illegal border crossing. When the McCarran-Walter Act was made, it finally ended the exclusion of Asian immigrants coming to the U.S. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act
The Immigration and Nationality Act replaces the national quotas put in place in the 1920's. The 1920's quotas favored some racial and ethnic groups over others. -
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act
This act signed by President Ronald Reagan granted an official pardon to millions of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. -
Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors (DREAM) Act
This act proposed to give undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents a pathway to a legal status. The bill, and other versions of it, don't pass. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
This, signed by President Barack Obama, protected some Dreamers from being deported. Although it works as a temporary shield, it doesn't provide a way for Dreamers to gain citizenship.