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Articles of Confederation Decides on Citizenship
In the Articles of Confederation, it was established that the citizenship of an immigrant is granted by state. Each state could decide what it took for an immigrant to become a citizen. -
Alien Naturalization Act
This act was created by the newly formed United States government. The act stated that people could become citizens if they were a free white person, had a good moral charatcer, lived at least two years in the United States, and lived at least one year in the state that they were applying for their citizenship in. The court would decide if the person applying had a good moral character and would grant them their citizenship. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
These acts were signed into law by President Adams. With these acts, the government now had the right to depot illegal immigrants and make it harder for new immigrants to vote. Also, the acts stated that a person had to have lived in the United States for fourteen years before they could apply to become a citizen. -
Supreme Court Rules Imiigration a Right of Congress
This event started with Massachusetts and New York trying to pass their own laws dealing with immigrants and immigration. When brought the the Supreme Court, it was decided that immigration fell under the "foreign commerce" section of the Constitution and was therefore the right of Congress. Therefore, states did not have any jurisdiction when it came to immigration laws. -
Commissioner of Immigration Appointed
In an attempt to centralize immigration control, a commissioner of immigration is appointed. It was the commissioner of immigration's job to work under the Secretary of State and oversee all federal immigration laws. -
Revision of the Naturalization Act
There was a revision made to the naturalization law. Now instead of the law only allowing free white people to be eligible of citizenship, a person of any race could be eligible for citizenship. This meant that the previous slaves and other African Americans could now obtain citizenship. -
Page Law
The page law dealt with immigrants coming from Japan, China, or other Asian countries. The law stated that anybody who tried to bring over any person from an Asian country without their consent, for prostitution, for labor, or any person who had been arrested before could be fined or get jail time. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first act passed in the United States that actually prohibited a group of immigrants from coming into the United States. This act prohibited Chinese immigrants from coming to the United States for ten years. The act also said that any Chinese person living in the United States could not become a citizen. -
Expatriation Act
This act states that any citizen who returns to their home country and lives there for two years or lives in a different country for five years will lose their citizenship. It also stated that any women who marrries a man from a different country will take his citizenship. Therefore, she would have to gain back her citizenship once she gets married. -
Indian Citizenship Act
This act granted citizenship to all the Native Americans living within the Unites States. This law was good because it granted true citizenship to the Native Americans so, they did not have to try to get citizenship other ways such as marrying into it or completing military service. -
Executive Order 9066
This order was passed by President Rossevelt. It gave the government the right to ban citizens of Japanese ancestry and Japanese aliens from some land in the United States. It also said that the Japanese could be sent to internment camps that were run by the military. This camps were very controversial because they were kept in quiet usually and in the camps, the Japanese were treated very brutally by the military workers and the government. -
Armed Forces Naturalization Act
This act allowed any person who served in any military position in any war to be able to get citizenship in the United States. This act was a big step because it applied to a person requardless of their race or age. The act also stated that there would not be a charge for the citizenship to be granted, unless specified by a state. -
Secure Fence Act
This act was put into place in 2006 by George W. Bush. Within the act, it was decided that the Department of Homeland Security would have all the power over the U.S.-Mexican border. This act was passed so there could be physical barriers built at the border. Also with this act, there would be a lot of technology put into the border to help deal with stopping the tons of illegal immigrants that were making it over the border each day. -
Controverdial Arizona SB1070 Law Signed
The SB1070 law is very important becuase it is one of the most controversial laws put into place on immigration. This law states that in Arizona, One of the most controversial parts is that police officers have the right "to arrest a person without a warrant if the officer has probable cause to believe the person has committed any public offense that makes the person removable from the United States." This idea is very controversial because it allows room for racial profiling amongst citizens. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Defferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, also known as DACA, was passed by the Secretary of Homeland Security. This law was passed to insure that foreigners who entered the country as children and meet certain guidelines can have their deportation deferred. DACA is good for two years and can be renewed once it expires. If a person does get the DACA benefits, however, they are not fully a United States citizen.
