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Start of Colonial Immigration
The settlement on the James River in 1607 marked the beginning of this nation that was certainly English in its foundation. Virginia, New England, Maryland, the Carolinas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia were begun by Englishmen; and New England, Virginia, and Maryland remained mostly English throughout the seventeenth century and well into the eighteenth. -
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American History
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Massachusetts Prohibits "Lame, Impotent, or Infirm Persons" from Entering
Colonial immigration laws set precedents that were followed in subsequent national legislation. Colonial Americans viewed strangers as legitimate objects of suspicion, cautiously allowed settlers but were wary of those of religious difference or those who might become public charges. -
England Stops Emigration to the Colonies
All naturalization was stopped and heavy financial burdens were imposed upon emigrants and shipmasters who violated the law. This change in policy was brought up by the American Revolutionists when they compiled their grievances against George III in the Declaration of Independence. -
The Alien and Sedation Acts
These acts were signed by President John Adams which increased the residency requirement for American citizenship from five to fourteen years, authorized the president to imprison or deport aliens considered dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States and restricted speech critical of the government. Negative reaction to the Alien and Sedition Acts helped contribute to the Democratic-Republican victory in the 1800 elections. -
Foreign Slave Trade Outlawed
When Congress was finally able to interefere with the slave trade, President Jefferson, promptly made that trade illegal, but did not interfere with either the domestic slave trade or slavery itself. The approximately 50,000 slaves smuggled into the United States after 1808 became the first illegal immigrants. -
Ellis Island Opens as Immigration Entry Checkpoint
From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through the Ellis Island, an island in New York Harbor. -
Citizenship Given to all Born in the United States
The Supreme confirms that the fourteenth amendment of the constitution gives citizenship to anyone who has been born in America. -
Thousands of Mexicans cross the US-Mexican Border
The Mexican Revolution drove thousands of Mexicans north due to the chaos. The United States offered higher-paying jobs in industry, in mines, on railroads, and in agriculture. World War I further increased the demand for Mexican labor. -
US Congress Authorizes "Mounted Inspectors" Along the US-Mexico Border
Congress authorized a group of Mounted Inspectors to patrol the US-Mexican border. Most rode on horseback and largely pursued Chinese immigrants trying to avoid the Chinese exclusion laws. These patrolmen were Immigrant Inspectors, assigned to inspection stations, and could not watch the border at all times. -
US Labor Secretary Estimates That Over 1,000,000 Mexicans Are in US Illegally
For Mexicans, crossing the border is an easy process, since much of the southern border is unguarded and the Rio Grande, which forms the greater part of it, is easily crossed. It is estimated that there are over a million illegal immigrants in the US. It is said that for every one Mexican who enters legally, there are three who enter illegally. -
President Franklin D. Roosevelt sends Thousands of Japanese-Americans to Internment Camps
President Roosevelt authorized the internment of tens of thousands of American citizens of Japanese ancestry and resident aliens from Japan. These people had to leave their homes and possession to live in poorly set up camps in many states on the West coast. This was due to WWII and the fear of disloyal Japanese people in American though they all had American citizenshio. -
Bracero Program Begins Bringing in Temporary Mexican Laborers
World War II had increased the demand for laborers in the United States. After trying to prevent Mexican immigrantion for the last half of a century, the US government now began to organize and channel huge numbers of migrant workers called bracero's across its border. This phase lasted 22 years and mobilized more than five million migrant workers. -
Bracero Program is Cancelled
The Mexican government wanted to renew the program but The US government was not interested because migrant laborers would arrive without papers and outside of negotiated agreements. This started the era of undocumented migration, during this phase, laissez-faire attitudes and policies reigned. -
Estimated 2 to 4 Million Illegal Immigrants in The United States
The undocumented Mexican population was up to 1-2 million in 1980, with the total number from all countries falling in the range of 2-4 million. The estimates for 1980 show a high proportion of recent arrivals, and very few who entered the United States prior to 1960 -
Immigration Act of 1990
This act increased the limits on legal immigration and revised all grounds for exclusion and deportation, authorized temporary protected status to aliens of designated countries. -
Estimated 11.8 Million Unauthorized Immigrants in US
Homeland Security estimated 11.8 million unauthorized immigrants were living in the United States in January 2007 compared to 8.5 million in 2000. Nearly 4.2 million of the total 11.8 million unauthorized residents in 2007 had entered in 2000 or later. An estimated 7.0 million were from Mexico. -
Controversial Arizona Bill (SB 1070) Signed into Law
This bill makes it 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.
