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Irish Potato Famine
Over a milion people immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland due to mass starvation and disease. -
President Lincoln Prohibits the Coolie Trade
President Lincoln outlaws the shipments of Chinese subjects (called coolies) that are to be used in slavery. -
Homestead Act of 1862
The Homestead act of 1862 encouraged people to migrate west. This caused conflict with Mexico and Native Americans. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act halted Chinese immigration for ten years and declared people of Chinese decent ineligible for citizenship. -
Immigration Act of 1882
The Immigration Act of 1882 put a 50 cent tax on immigrants entering the country. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island opens as an immigration checkpoint in New York Bay. -
Anarchist Exclusion Act
Anarchist Exclusion Act added three more classes to immigration that were denied entry into the U.S. -
Angel Island Opens
Angel Island is an immigration station located in San Francisco Bay, California. -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration act of 1924 limited the amount of people who could immigrate to the U.S. to two percent of that race's population. -
Alien Registration Act
The Alien Registration Act required all non-citizen adults in the U.S. to register with the government. -
Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act
The Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act established a new policy that was focused on reuniting immigrant families. -
Refugee Act of 1980
The Refugee Act of 1980 made a more uniform process of the resettlement of refugees. -
Immigration Act of 1990
The Immigration act of 1990 increased the amount immigrants allowed in the U.S. to 700,00. -
Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
The Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act increased the time required for immigrants to be out of the U.S. after being in the country illegally. -
Terrorist Attacks Calls for Higher Security
9/11 changed the immigration policies of the U.S. This includes an increase in spending on deportations and agencies like ICE.