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Naturalization Act
This was America's first federal legislation passed regarding immigration. It granted citizenship to all free white people, and their children, who had lived in the states for at least two years. In 1795 the law was revised to raise the residence requirement to five years.
http://immigrationtous.net/205-naturalization-acts-united-states-1790-1795.html -
Manifest of Immigrants Act
This was the first act to require records to be kept of all migrants entering the states. It also regulated the transportation of immigrants in order to reduce mortality rates and incoming numbers by requiring large amounts of food to be taken and limiting two people per every five tons of ship cargo.
http://immigrationtous.net/190-manifest-of-immigrants-act-united-states-1819.html -
1864 Immigration Act
This act created the position of Commissioner of Immigration that was to answer to the Secretary of State. Overall, it was designed to encourage and increase immigration due to the shortage of workers during the Civil War.
http://immigrationtous.net/145-immigration-act-united-states-1864.html -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This act prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the United States for ten years, or until the act was renewed, which it was in 1892. It was created to appease people on the west coast who attributed their economic problems to the presence of Chinese workers. This was the first major act that prohibited the immigration of an entire ethnic group and it thus set the precedence for future restrictions against other races as well.
http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-exclusion-act -
1891 Immigration Act
This act was a revision of the 1882 act. It continued to ban undesired people such as disabled people and felons and added that each person had to pay for their own ticket without outside assistance. It also was the first act to create a fine for illegal immigration that required the payment of $300 and immediate shipment back to their home country. 1891 was also the year that the Bureau of Immigration was created.
http://library.uwb.edu/static/usimmigratio/1891_immigration_act.html -
1917 Immigration Act
Also known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, this was the first highly restrictive immigration policy. It banned visas to any "undesirable" who could not contribute to society as well as any person from a country adjacent to Asia that was not owned by the US. This act is known for requiring medical exams, an $8 tax, and literacy tests to all people before entering the States.
http://library.uwb.edu/static/USimmigratio/1917_immigration_act.html -
The Immigration Act of 1924
Also known as the Johnson-Reid Act, this law revised the previously created quota system of immigration. It would now admit visas to two percent of each nationality already residing in the United States as recorded by the 1890 census, excluding Asians. All in all, this act sought to increase United States homogeneity.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1921-1936/immigration-act -
Magnuson Act
This act finally repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 so that the Chinese already residing in the states could become citizens and those who were not could legally immigrate. Previously enacted quotas still had to be followed, but this was still a big step in creating immigration equality. On the contrary, this act still prohibited the ownership of property or businesses by Chinese Americans. http://library.uwb.edu/static/usimmigration/1943_magnuson_act.html -
The Immigration and Nationality Act
Also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, this act retained the previous quota systems policies created in the 1920's but added a preference system which gave priority to those with valuable skills or those with American family members. It also allowed for the exclusion of any people with affiliations with communism because they were seen as a threat national security since the end of WWII. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/immigration-act -
The Immigration and Nationality Act
Also known as the Hart-Celler Act, this piece of legislation got rid of the quota system that had controlled immigration since the 1920's. Because of this, total immigration numbers increased and no longer favored northern and western European immigrants. This law put the immigration cap at 170,000 people, but would admit family members of American citizens in without limitations. http://immigrationtounitedstates.org/594-immigration-and-nationality-act-of-1965.html -
Refugee Act
There was an immediate need for a change in policy regarding refugees after the Vietnam War ended and over 300,000 people sought refuge in the states. This act raised the refugee ceiling from 17,400 to 50,000 and created a plan for future emergency situations. https://www.archivesfoundation.org/documents/refugee-act-1980/ -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Also known as the Simpson-Mazzoli Act, this piece of legislation was created to revise policies regarding unauthorized immigrants. It allowed illegal immigrants to gain authorized status if they met certain mandated requirements. This process was overseen by the Attorney General and also stated that even legal residents could not receive welfare assistance for five years. http://library.uwb.edu/static/usimmigration/1986_immigration_reform_and_control_act.html -
Immigration Act of 1990
This act provided many revisions to the prior Immigration and Nationality Act. These revisions included raising the cap to 700,000, and created the lottery system of granting visas to prevent discrimination, grouping immigrants into three categories (family-sponsored, employment-based, and diversity) and capping the admission of unskilled workers at 10,000.
http://immigration.laws.com/immigrationy-act-of-1990 -
The Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act
This act was passed because of the fear that 9/11 created in America regarding immigrants. This act increased border patrol and security and airport security, while also providing funding to see these things happen. It also required biometric identifiers to be installed at all the country's points of entry as well as promoting cooperation among agencies to prevent entry of potentially dangerous people.
http://www2.gtlaw.com/practices/immigration/newsletter/archives/006/item07.htm -
Arizona's Current Policies: SB 1070
Also known as "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act", this legislation was passed in Arizona, but was sent to the Supreme Court where three of the four most extreme provisions were determined unconstitutional. Just this year, the last provision was ended, however, the bill sparked huge controversy for issues regarding illegal immigration, not only in Arizona but across the nation.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-arizona-law-20160915-snap-story.html
