Immigration

History Timeline

By anahiz

  • Immigration in the Colonial Era

    Immigration in the Colonial Era
    In 1607, the English founded their first permanent settlement at Jamestown in the Virginia Colony. Many arrived in America in search of religous freedom and economic opportunities.

  • Naturalization Act

    Naturalization Act
    Rules stating that any free white person could apply for citizenship after two years of residency.

  • Alien and Sedition Acts

    Alien and Sedition Acts
    Acts required 14 years of residency before citizenship and provided for the deportation of "dangerous" aliens. Changed to five-year residency in 1800.

  • The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

    The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
    Treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. Allowed for the United States to acquire Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, and parts of Utah and Nevada from Mexico. 80,000 Mexicans living in those regions are allowed to remain and are given citizenship.

  • Homestead Act

    Homestead Act
    Passed to encourage westward migration. Promised land at a low price. Citizens could claim 160 acres of government land.

  • Immigration Act of 1882

    Immigration Act of 1882
    Laws intended to regulate immigration. Designed to exclude immigrants whose undesirable conditions might prove costly to society, including convicted criminals, the poor, and the mentally ill. A 50 cent tax was put on all immigrants landing at U.S. ports as a government immigration fund.

  • Ellis Island Opens

    Ellis Island Opens
    First Federal immigration center where immigrants were subject to medical and legal examinations detailed in the "Ellis Island Inspection Process."

  • U.S. Border Patrol Established

    U.S. Border Patrol Established
    Congress passed the Labor Appropriation Act of 1924, which officially established the U.S. Border Patrol for the purpose of securing the borders between inspection stations.

  • The Bracero Program

    The Bracero Program
    Agreement between Mexico and the U.S. that allowed millions of Mexican men to come to the U.S. to work on, short-term, primarily agricultural labor contracts.

  • Displaced Persons Act

    Displaced Persons Act
    Authorized 200,000 displaced persons by World War II to enter the United States. refugees must pass a security check and have proof of employment and housing that does not threaten U.S. citizens' jobs and homes.

  • Refugee Act of 1980

    Refugee Act of 1980
    "Act permits individuals within the United States and at the U.S. border to apply for 'asylum' or 'restriction on removal,' formerly known as 'withholding of deportation'" (

  • Immigration Reform and Control Act

    Immigration Reform and Control Act
    Provided for amnesty for many illegal aliens and sanctions for employers hiring illegals to Qualifying Immigrants Who Entered the US Illegally before Jan. 1, 1982.

  • AZ Bill SB1070

    AZ Bill SB1070
    "It will be a state crime to be in the country illegally, and legal immigrants will be required to carry paperwork proving their status. Arizona police will generally be required to question anyone they 'reasonably suspect' of being undocumented" (hhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/23/AR2010042301441.html)

  • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

    Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
    Allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation.

  • Obama Presents U.S. Immigration Reform

    Obama Presents U.S. Immigration Reform
    "President Barack Obama imposed the most sweeping immigration reform in a generation on Thursday, easing the threat of deportation for some 4.7 million undocumented immigrants and setting up a clash with Republicans who vow to fight his moves" (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/21/us-usa-immigration-obama-idUSKCN0J420W20141121#2IRzpLOw8of2t7pM.97)