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1790
Early in the nation's history, Congress declared a preference for immigrants from Europe. In 1790, it passed a law defining who could become a citizen if a person wasn't born here: Citizenship was possible only for someone who was "a free white person." As that term was then understood, this barred any African or Asian immigrant from becoming a citizen. After the Civil War, this law was revised to allow people born in Africa to become citizens, but Asian immigrants were still excluded. -
Period: to
1880 & 1920
One of the heaviest periods of immigration in American history came between 1880 and 1920 when some 25 million immigrants arrived. Most came from the countries of Southern and Eastern Europe-parts of the world that were unfamiliar to many Americans. They saw these new immigrants as very different from themselves. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
In 1882, Congress responded to Californians beginning to rally against the Chinese by passing the Chinese Exclusion Act. It said that no Chinese laborer could enter the United States for 10 years. Chinese professionals were still allowed to immigrate. Renewed several times, the act was in force until World War II. In that conflict, China was an American ally and Congress repealed the law. -
Quota Act of 1921
Congress set up quotas favoring immigrants from northwestern Europe; the Immigration Act of 1924 expands this quota system. -
Immigration Act of 1924
In 1924, Congress took a more drastic step than in 1921. The Immigration Act of 1924 introduced a quota system by country: each country's immigrants were limited to 2% of foreign-born residents from that country listed in the U.S. Census of 1890. This formula favored groups that had been in the United States for a long time. (Great Britain would have a higher quota than Italy) During the next 40 years, immigration dropped sharply. -
1965: Immigration Reform Act
The next major policy shift was inspired by the civil rights movement and its ideal of equality and social justice. In 1965 Congress passed the Immigration Reform Act, abolishing the quota system based on national origin. This new law was driven by the principles of reunifying families and giving priorities to certain skills. The law also set up annual limits: 170,000 immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere and 120,000 immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. -
1986: Immigration Reform & Control Act
The Immigration Reform & Control Act penalized employers(fines to prison)for knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants.The act gave amnesty to some undocumented immigrant workers,allowing them a path to eventually apply for citizenship as long as they could show they had entered theU.S. before January of1982 and lived here continuously.Eligibleworkerscould be granted temporary then permanent residency.After 5 years, they could apply for citizenship.This act failed at slowing illegal immigration. -
Immigration Act of 1990
In order to prevent any one country from making up most of the immigrants to the United States, Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1990. It said no country could account for more than 7% of total immigrants. The law also considered a person's education and skills. In addition, the 1990 law set up special categories for war refugees or close relatives of American citizens. -
Immigration Reform Act of 1996
In 1996, concerns about the continuing problem of illegal immigration led Congress to pass yet another immigration law. It increased the border patrol staff and stiffened penalties for creating false citizenship papers or smuggling undocumented workers. -
2007
President George W. Bush proposed a bill to fill short-term labor needs through a guest worker program and strengthened border control.Bush argued it was realistic because it didn't propose to track down and deport millions of undocumented workers who were already here.The bill would also fine undocumented immigrants and require them to fulfill certain obligation before they could apply for citizenship.Many, especially Republicans judged the bill as not harsh enough and the Senate voted it down.
