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1607 Beginning of Colonial Immigration to America
1607 was the year the first immigrants (English Settlers) of America arrived in the New World. -
Importation of Slaves
In the year 1619 slaves began to be imported to America. The first slaves arrived in Jamestown, Virginia from the West Indies. -
Massachusetts Immigration Law Enacted
On this day a law was enacted in Massachusetts to prohibit lame, impotent, or inferm people from entering the state. -
First Naturalization Act
The US governent encated the first naturalization act which dictated the procedures aliens had to complete to be granted national citizenship. -
Abolition of Slave Trade
In 1808 the imporation of slaves became illegal. However, slaves were still brought into the country illegally and those that arrived after 1808 became the first illegal immigrants in America. -
Treaty of Guadelupe-Hildago
The treaty ended the Mexican- American War and the US gained Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, California, and part of Utah. The people who were residing in those states were granted citizenship. -
Lincoln Prohibits Coolie Act
President Lincoln votes against the Coolie Act which would bring Chinese people to America for cheap labor. -
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Immigrants Brought in to Work on Railroads
The Central Pacific Railroad hired many Chinese workers and the Union Pacific Railroad hired Irish laborers to build the first Transcontinental Railroad. -
First Attempt by Congress to Centralize Immigration Control
A commissioner of immigration was selected by the President. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This began the 39 year era of restrictions on which nationalities could immigrate to US. -
Statue of Liberty
This was when the Statue of Liberty was revealed in New York as the symbol of freedom to immigrants. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island becomes the immigration check point. -
14th Ammendment= Citizenship
Supreme Court ruled that the 14th Amendment gives all people born in the US citizenship. -
Quota Act
The first Quota Act was passed and restricted the number of immigrants that can come into the US from certain countries. -
Labor Appropriation Act
The first border patrol was created from the Labor Appropriation Act of 1924. -
Refugee Act
The Refugee Act allows persecuted people to find asylum in the United States. -
Secure Fence Act
Passed to create a fence along the US Mexico border to reduce illegal immigrants crossing the border. -
AZ State Bill 1070
Controversial bill passed in AZ to give the state more power to fight illegal immigration. Immigrants musts carry their paperwork on their citizenship status. It has led to complaints about racial profiling by authorities.
