US Immigration

By em224

  • Nautralization Act of 1790

    Stipulated that "any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States"

  • 1875

    Supreme Court declared that regulation of US immigration is the responsibility of the Federal Government.

  • The Chinese Exclusion Act

    Prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States.

  • Ellis Island

    A new Federal US immigration station opened on Ellis Island in New York Harbor.

  • The US immigration Act of 1907

    Reorganized the states bordering Mexico (Arizona, New Mexico and a large part of Texas) into Mexican Border District to stem the flow of immigrants into the United States.

  • The Alien Registration Act

    Required all aliens (non-U.S. citizens) within the United States to register with the Government and receive an Alien Registration Receipt Card (the predecessor of the "Green Card").

  • Immigration and Nationality Act

    Established the modern day US immigration system. It created a quota system which imposes limits on a per-country basis. It also established the preference system that gave priority to family members and people with special skills.

  • President Gerald Ford Repeals Executive Order 9066 Proclaming WWII Japanese Relocation a "National Mistake"

    "After World War II, some Japanese Americans thought the U.S. government should officially recognize that it had denied their rights and unjustly incarcerated them. Beginning with a few individuals, these efforts grew into a national movement to obtain an apology and compensation from the U.S. government for wrongful actions taken against people of Japanese ancestry during World War II, and to help ensure that such injustices would never be allowed again. Japanese Americans and their supporters

  • Refugee Act of 1980 Allows Persecuted Individuals to Seek Asylum in US

    Established a general policy governing the admission of refugees for people in Cuba

  • Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) Grants Legal Status to Qualifying Illegal AliensWho Entered the USBefore Jan. 1, 1982

    : Focused on curtailing illegal US immigration. It legalized hundred of thousands of illegal immigrants. The 1986 Immigration Act is commonly know as the 1986 Immigration Amnesty. It also introduced the employer sanctions program which fines employers for hiring illegal workers. It also passed tough laws to prevent bogus marriage fraud.

  • Immigration Act of 1990 Increases Limit on Legal Immigration and Revises Grounds for Exclusion and Deportation

    Established an annual limit for certain categories of immigrants. It was aimed at helping U.S. businesses attract skilled foreign workers; thus, it expanded the business class categories to favor persons who can make educational, professional or financial contributions. It created the Immigrant Investor Program.

  • USA Patriot Act 2001

    Uniting and Strengthening America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism.

  • Creation of the USCIS 2003

    the US immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) becomes part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department’s new U.S. Citizenship and US immigration Services (USCIS) function is to handle US immigration services and benefits, including citizenship, applications for permanent residence, non-immigrant applications, asylum, and refugee services. US immigration enforcement functions are now under the Department's Border and Transportation Security Directorate, known as the Bureau

  • Secure Fence Act Authorizes Fencing along the US-Mexican Border

    "The Secure Fence Act was signed into law on October 26, 2006. The Act authorizes the construction of [700] hundreds of miles of double-layered fencing along the nation's Southern border. It also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take action to stop the unlawful entry of undocumented immigrants, terrorists, and contraband into the U.S. using both personnel and surveillance technology. The Secretary is further instructed to evaluate U.S. Customs and Border Protection training and equi

  • Controversial Arizona Bill (SB 1070) Signed into Law, Expanding the State's Authority to Combat Illegal Immigration

    Under Arizona's new law, to take effect in 90 days, it will be 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 -- a provision that critics argue will lead to widespread racial profiling, but that supporters insist will give authorities the flexibility to enforce existing immigration laws."