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1790
The Congress passed a law defining who could be a citizen if a person was not born here: Citizenship was possible only for someone who was a "free white person." As that term was understood for them that barred any African or Asian immigrant from becoming a ctizen. -
1880-1920
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 the immigrants as different than themselves. -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Said that no Chinese laborer could enter the US for 10 years. Renewed several times, the act was in force until WWII. In that conflict China was an ally and congress repealed the act. -
Quota act of 1921
Congress sets up quotas favoring immigrants from the northwestern Europe; the Immigration Act of 1924 expands the quota system: immigration from any country is limited to 2 percent of its total in the 1890 census. -
Immigration Act of 1924
The formula favored groups that had been in the US for a long time. For example, Great Britian would have a high-quota because there were many Brittish-born residents in the US in 1890.the Immigration Act of 1924 expands the quota system: immigration from any country is limited to 2 percent of its total in the 1890 census. -
1965- Immigration Reform Act
Abolishing the quota system based on national origin. The new law was driven by two priniciples; reunifying family and giving priority to certain skills. -
Immigration act of 1990
Said that no country could account for 7% of total immigrants. The law also considered a person's education sklls. In addition the 1990 law set up special categories fr war refugees or close relatives of American citizens. -
Immigration Reform Act of 1996
Increased the border patrol staff and stiffened penalties for creating false citizenship papers or smuggling undocumented work. -
2007
President George W. Bush committed himself to backing a bill to address all immigration issues. Bush's bill proposed to fill a short-term labor needs through a guest worker program and strengthened border control. In late June 2007, the senate voted the bill down, ending any chance of solving the immigration issue.
