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Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Stopped entry of Chinese immigrants into the United States for ten years. It was the first to establish the federal fovernments right to restrict immigration based on nationalities. -
1888 & 1891
More restrictive acts were passed. They allowed the national government not oly to exclude certain individuals; convicts, prostitutes, and insane persons, for example; but also to deport aliens who entered the country in violation of these immigration laws. -
Quota Act of 1921
This act limited the annual number of immigrants from each nationality to 3 percent of the number of foreign-born persons of that nationality who were living in the United States in 1910. The law did not apply to certain categories of educated people, such as professors, ministers, doctors, and lawyers. Most Asian groups were not included in the list of nationalities. -
Immigration Act of 1924 and National Origins Act of 1929
Established a new quota system for each nationality and set a limit on the total number of immigrants to be allowed entry at all (150000 per year). The quota system that resulted from these acts served as teh basis for U.S. immigration policy for more than thirty-five years. -
1965
The 1965 law eliminated quotas based on national origin. As many as 270000 immigrants could be admitted each year without regard to nationality, country of origin, or race. No more than 20000 persons could come from any one country, however. Close relatives of American citizens were given special status, as were aliens with specialized occupational talents. -
1986 - Immigration Reform and Control Act
Imposed severe penalities on employers who willfully hired illegal aliens (fines range from $250 to $10000 for each offense). Employers who repeatedly violate this law can be jailed for up to six months. The 1986 law also included an amnesty program. -
1987-88 - Amnesty Program
From the summer of 1987 to the summer of 1988, illegal aliens who could prove that they had been in this country continuously for at least five years could apply to obtain temporary legal residency status. Eighteen months later, they could aply for permanent residency. -
Immigration Act of 1990
This act raised legal immigration levels by about 40 percent, to 700000 per year. It stressed family reunification, provided legal status for certain illegal immigrants, and struck down barriers blocking people with certain political beliefs from entry. The 1990's act's most significant feature was a tripling of the number of visas ( to about 140000 a year) granted to highly skilled professionals, such as engineers, researchers, and scientists. -
1994 - Proposition 187
It denied public social services, publicly funded health care, and public education to people who were suspected of being illegal aliens. It required that individuals who were suspected of being illegal aliens be interviewed, questioned, and forced to produce legal residency documents. It required all law enforcement agencies in California to report anyone suspected of being in the United states illegally. -
Immigration Reform Act of 1996
The most recent effort to curb immigration, particularly illegal immigration. The act put into effect a number of provisions to stem illegal immigration. One provision of the act would have forced hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and refugees to leave the United States. -
Welfare Reform Act of 1996
Prohibited immigrants, including legal immigrants who are not yet citizens, from recieving most forms of public assistance, including welfare benefits. -
1997
Americans thought that the new Welfare Reform Act toward immigrants was too harsh. In response, Congress revised its policy in 1997. Under the new policy, many refugees automatically became eligible for permanent legal residence. Other illegal immigrants were allowed to remain in the United States while the government processed their applications for permanent legal residence. Additionally, immigrants were again made eligible for public-assistance benefits.
