Immigration Policies

By Katiepilcher

  • Naturalization Act of 1790: - limited naturalization to free white immigrants- required 2 years of residence before applying for citizenship

    • limited naturalization to free white immigrants
    • required 2 years of residence before applying for citizenship

  • Chinese Exclusion Act: - prohibited immigration of all Chinese laborers - 1st law to prevent specific group from entering

    • prohibited immigration of all Chinese laborers
    • 1st law to prevent specific group from entering

  • Immigration Act of 1882:- 50¢ tax on all aliens coming to US ports- passengers were examined and anyone who could be a public charge (lunatic, convict, idiot) would be denied entry

    • 50¢ tax on all aliens coming to US ports
    • passengers were examined and anyone who could be a public charge (lunatic, convict, idiot) would be denied entry

  • Immigration Act of 1917: - added to long list of people who were denied (alcoholics, polygamists, homosexuals, anarchists)- wouldn't allow anyone who is not literate (took literacy test)

    • added to long list of people who were denied (alcoholics, polygamists, homosexuals, anarchists)
    • wouldn't allow anyone who is not literate (took literacy test)

  • The Emergency Quota Act:- restricted number of immigrants from a country annually to 3% of the number of people from that country already living in the US as of 1910 census - Northern Europe had higher quota than Southern eastern Europe

    • restricted number of immigrants from a country annually to 3% of the number of people from that country already living in the US as of 1910 census
    • Northern Europe had higher quota than Southern eastern Europe
    • there were no limits on immigration from Latin America

  • Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952:- revised the quotas and based them on the 1920 census- racial distinctions were omitted from the US code

    • revised the quotas and based them on the 1920 census
    • racial distinctions were omitted from the US code

  • Refugee Relief Act of 1953:- in order to apply for admission refugees had to have proof of guaranteed home and job in the U.S.

    • in order to apply for admission refugees had to have proof of guaranteed home and job in the U.S.

  • Hart-Celler Act:- abolished national origin quotas- allowed 120,000 immigrants from Western Hemisphere and 170,000 from eastern hemisphere annually

    • abolished national origin quotas
    • allowed 120,000 immigrants from Western Hemisphere and 170,000 from eastern hemisphere annually

  • Refugee Act of 1980:- annual admission of refugees (people displaced or unwilling to remain in current country) is set at 50,000 annually unless there's an emergency situation

    • annual admission of refugees (people displaced or unwilling to remain in current country) is set at 50,000 annually unless there's an emergency situation

  • Immigration Reform and Control Act: -penalties for employers who knowingly hired illegal immigrants - allowed illegal immigrants who arrived in the US before January 1,1982 to be legalized if they possessed minimal knowledge about English and America

    • created penalties for employers who knowingly hired illegal immigrants
    • allowed illegal immigrants who came and could prove that they were in the US before January 1,1982 to be pardoned and legalized if they possessed minimal knowledge about English and America

  • Immigration Act of 1990: -raised total immigration limit to 700,000 annually -more regulations on visas -lifted the English testing process

    • raised total immigration limit to 700,000 annually
    • more regulations on visas
    • lifted the English testing process

  • REAL ID Act of 2005: - changed visa limits - made it easier to exclude terrorists - allowed for barriers to be built at borders

    • changed visa limits
    • made it easier to exclude terrorists
    • allowed for barriers to be built at borders