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Declaration of Independence
DoI grants rights to natural born citizens or those citizens at the time of signing. -
Post War of 1812 Influx of European Immigrants
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14th Ammendment
Granted rights and equal protections to formerly enslaved people and immigrants. -
Naturalization Act of 1870
Extended Naturalization eligibility to alien whites and blacks of African descent, excludes others. -
Geary Act
An extension of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 requiring Chinese people to carry documentation. -
United States vs Wong Kim Ark
Determined that all persons born in the US are citizens regardless of race or nationality. -
Naturalization Act of 1906
The Basic Naturalization Act pressured States to standardize the process via Federal oversight and formed the FNS. -
Immigration Act of 1917
Further ostracized Asian immigrants, illiterate immigrants and those deemed "undesirable". -
The Cable Act
Reversed the law that stripped women of their citizenry should they marry a foreigner. -
Civil Rights Act
Defined the set of civil rights all people in the US are entitled to regardless of citizenship, race, or immigration status. -
Immigration Act of 1990
Overhauled the immigration process, increased the number of immigrants granted VISAs and created a permanent process for naturalization. -
Patriot Act
A controversial act allowing law enforcement to invade the privacy of citizens and deport immigrants for security purposes. -
The DREAM Act
Protects minors brought to the US illegally.