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Early Restrictions
It passed a la defining who could become a citizen if apeson wa notbon here: Citizenship was possible only for someone who was "a free white person". -
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 Southern and Eastern Europe-----Parts of the world that were unfamiliar to many Americans. They saw these new immigrants a vey different from themselves. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
Congress resonded by passing the Chinese Exclusion act. It said that no Chinese laborer could enter the United States for 10 years. Renewed several times, the act was in force until World War II. -
Quota Act
Congress sets up quotas favoring immigrants from northwestern Europe. -
Immigration Act of 1924
Expands the quota system: Immigration for, any country is limited to 2 percent of its total numbers in the 1890 census. -
Immigration Reform Act
Throws out the national origins system; now preference is given first to reunifying families and second to people whose skills help the United States. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Penalizes employers for knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants, but it gives amnesty to some undocumented immigrants, allowing them a oath to eventually apply for citizenship. -
Immigration Act of 1990
More than 80 percent of American immigrants came from Asia and Latin America. Congress wanted to prevent any one country from making up most of the immigrants to the United States. -
Immigration Reform Act of 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 committed himself to backing a bill to address all immigration issues.
