Immigration History in the United States

The first Germans arrive in America.

Oct 6, 1683

Pastorius preceded the settlers to America, arriving in Philadelphia in mid-August, 1683. He negotiated with Penn for a tract of land northwest of Philadelphia on which to build a settlement, which was to become known as "Germantown." Six weeks later, on October 6, 1683, the ship Concord sailed into Philadelphia's harbor from Germany. On board were thirteen families.

The first Chinese arrive in America

Nov 25, 1820

The first Chinese arrived in the United States around 1820.

Great Potato Famine

Aug 24, 1845

By late summer and early autumn of 1845, it had spread throughout the greater part of northern and central Europe. This led to the mass exodus of Irish to America.

Amendment XIV is added to the US Constitution

Jul 9, 1868

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.

Chinese Exclusion Act

May 6, 1882

By 1882 the Chinese were hated enough to be banned from immigrating; the Chinese Exclusion Act, initially only a ten year policy, was extended indefinitely, and made permanent in 1902.

Ellis Island Opens

Jan 1, 1892

It opened with celebration on January 1, 1892.

United States v. Wong Kim Ark

Period: Mar 5, 1897 to Mar 28, 1898

The Court held that virtually everyone born in the United States is a U.S. citizen.

Magnuson Act

Dec 17, 1943

An act to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act

Operation Wetback

Period: Jun 17, 1954 to Sep 30, 1954

Unlike today, Mexicans caught in the roundup were not simply released at the border, where they could easily reenter the US. To discourage their return, Swing arranged for buses and trains to take many aliens deep within Mexico before being set free.Tens of thousands more were put aboard two hired ships, the Emancipation and the Mercurio. The ships ferried the aliens from Port Isabel, Texas, to Vera Cruz, Mexico, more than 500 miles south

United States v. Brignoni-Ponce

Period: Feb 18, 1975 to Jun 30, 1975

Holding: Border Patrol officers on roving patrols cannot stop a vehicle near border when the only ground for suspicion is that the occupants appear to be of Mexican ancestry.

Immigration Act of 1990

Nov 29, 1990

Public Law 101-649 (Act of November 29, 1990), which increased the limits on legal immigration to the United States, revised all grounds for exclusion and deportation, authorized temporary protected status to aliens of designated countries, revised and established new nonimmigrant admission categories, revised and extended the Visa Waiver Pilot Program, and revised naturalization authority and requirements.

Operation Gatekeeper

Oct 1, 1994

Operation Gatekeeper was a Clinton-era measure implemented by the U.S. Border Patrol, then a part of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, aimed at halting illegal immigration at the United States–Mexico border near San Diego, California.

Formation of the United States Department of Homeland Security

Nov 25, 2002

Formed November 25, 2002

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007

May 9, 2007

The bill was portrayed as a compromise between providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and increased border enforcement: it included funding for 300 miles (480 km) of vehicle barriers, 105 camera and radar towers, and 20,000 more Border Patrol agents, while simultaneously restructuring visa criteria around high-skilled workers.

Jan Brewer signs SB 1070

Apr 23, 2010

A. IN ADDITION TO ANY VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, A PERSON IS GUILTY OF26 WILLFUL FAILURE TO COMPLETE OR CARRY AN ALIEN REGISTRATION DOCUMENT IF THE27 PERSON IS IN VIOLATION OF 8 UNITED STATES CODE SECTION 1304(e) OR 1306(a).