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Naturalization act 1790
The first statue in the U.S regarding naturalization laws. Restricted citizenship to "any alien, being a free white person" who had been in the U.S. for two years. In effect, it left out indentured servants, slaves, and most women. -
Importation of slaves banned
Banned importation of slaves in the United States. -
Irish Potato Famine
Forced the Irish to migrate to the U.S due to low food sources -
Anti-Coolie Act
An act to protect free white labor against competition with Chinese Coolie labor, and to discourage the immigration of the Chinese into the State of California. -
Homestead Act
Encouraged Western migration by providing settlers 160 acres of public land. In exchange, homesteaders paid a small filing fee and were required to complete five years of continuous residence before receiving ownership of the land. -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
That all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of inns, public conveyances on land or water, theaters, and other places of public amusement; subject only to the conditions and limitations established by law, and applicable alike to citizens of every race and color, regardless of any previous condition of servitude. -
Immigration Act of 1917
restricted the immigration of 'undesirables' from other countries. -
Emergency Quota Act
Restricted immigration into the United States. -
Alien Registration Act of 1940
Required all aliens that were in the United States to register with the Government and receive an Alien Registration Receipt Card. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
An Act to revise the laws relating to immigration, naturalization, and nationality; and for other purposes. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The new law maintained the per-country limits, but it also created preference visa categories that focused on immigrants' skills and family relationships with citizens or U.S. residents. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The purpose of this legislation was to amend, revise, and reform/re-assess the status of unauthorized immigrants set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996,
This act states that immigrants unlawfully present in the United States for 180 days but less than 365 days must remain outside the United States for three years unless they obtain a pardon. If they are in the United States for 365 days or more, they must stay outside the United States for ten years unless they obtain a waiver. If they return to the United States without the pardon, they may not apply for a waiver for a period of ten years. -
USA PATRIOT Act
Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 -
Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act
requires: (a) persons to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote; (b) voters to present a photo identification before receiving a ballot at the polling place; and (c) state and local agencies to verify the identity and eligibility, based on immigration status, of applicants for non-federally mandated public benefits.
