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Steerage Act
This was the first major law enacted by Congress relating to immigration. It stated that ships entering American ports could not contain more than two people for every 5 tons of ship. Also, a passenger manifest had to be delivered to custom officials who passed it on to Congress so that immigration could be monitored. -
Immigration Act
This Act was created to encourage immigration. Congress created a commissioner of immigration, under the authority of the Secretary of State. This Act also created immigration labor contracts for up to a year. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This restricted Chines immigrants from entering the United States for 10 years. People caught bringing in Chines immigrants faced imprisonment up to a year or a fine of $500 per Chines immigrant. -
Immigration Act
This taxed immigrants 50 cents when they arrived at a US port. Immigrants were inspected and if they did not meet certain criteria, they were not permitted to leave the ship. -
Immigration Act
This revised the act of 1882. This created the Superintendent of Immigration under the Treasury department. -
Naturalization Act
This stated that immigrant must be able to speak, read, and write in English to become a US citizen. It also required a fixed nationalization form. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
(AKA McCarran-Walter Act) This act eliminated racial restrictions and gender discrimination, revised quota for restricting immigrants from certain countries, introduced selective immigration and a reporting system, and established an index of immigrants in the US. -
The Refugee Relief Act
This Act provided visas to individuals who were refugees, escapees, or German expellees. It also provided visas to their immediate family. -
The Immigration Reform and Control Act
This was created to control and discourage immigrants. It created laws for undocumented immigrants who have been in America since 1982, laws on agricultural workers, and laws for employers who hired undocumented immigrants This act also increased border security. -
Immigration Act
This increased the limit on undocumented immigrants and provided temporary protections for immigrants from certain countries. It revised exclusion and deportation regulations, nationalization requirements, and revised and extended the Visa waiver pilot program. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
This was created by congress to strengthen Immigration laws. It contained many provision including increased border enforcement, increased penalties for transporting undocumented immigrants, addresses undocumented immigrant employment, addresses rules and regulations on undocumented immigrant eligibility. -
Child Citizenship Act
This act allows certain foreign-born adopted and biological children of American citizens to automatically receive citizenship. They receive citizenship when entering America. They must have at least one American citizen parent and be under the age of 18. -
Legal Immigration Family Equity
This provided benefits for immigrants waiting for residency. It allows certain immigrants to stay in America or enter into America while waiting for their petition for residency to be completed. -
SB 1070
This Arizona law contains many laws including preventing local authorities from creating policies that limit federal immigration laws, officers must check immigration status of people they suspect might be illegal immigrants, law enforcement must deliver undocumented immigrants to federal custody, and prohibits undocumented immigrants from working without a work authorization. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
This memorandum provides eligibility for differed action of removal proceedings for two years, subject to renewal, and eligibility for work visa. Eligoble participants must be under the age of 31, entered America before they were 16, were present in America the date of the documents release, and must be currently in school, have a high school degree of GED, or a dischagred veteran of the Coast Guard or Army.
