United States Immigration Laws (1798-2005)
1790s
Naturalization Act
(June 18, 1798-1802)
It extends the duration of residence required for immigrants to become citizens to 14 years.
Alien Friends Act
(June 25, 1798-June 25, 1800)
It allows the president to deport any resident immigration who was considered dangerous to the country and to its people.
Alien Enemies Act
(July 6, 1798-present)
It allows the president to deport and question resident immigrants if their home countries were at war with the United States.
1870s-1880s
Page Act of 1875
(March 1875)
The first immigration law that hamper the entry of immigrants and considered immigrants as “undesirable.” It prevents any people to forcibly bring an individual from Asia and place them under a service. Any violators were fined up to
$2,000 and 1 year of jail
sentence.
Chinese Exclusion Act
(March 1882)
This act was passed in response to the increasing anxiety from inland laborers and racism. It prohibited Chinese naturalization, restricted immigration for Chinese laborers for 10 years and provided deportation for Chinese immigrants who settled illegally.
1890s
1920s-1950s
United States vs. Wong Kim Ark
(1898)
The settling court decision states that a child born in the United States with parents of Chinese descent and have permanent residence in the United States with no official duty under the Emperor of China should be granted U.S. citizenship.
Emergency Quota Act
(1921)
This act limited the number of immigrants from any country to 3%. It resulted in a rapid increase of illegal immigration and a rise in European immigration to Canada and Mexico.
Permanent Quota Act
(1924)
It imposed the first permanent numeral limit on immigration. It began the national-origin quota system. As a result, thousands of Mexican Americans were deported from the U.S., false marriages and “picture brides” were on the rise.
Permanent Quota Act
(1924)
The settling court decision states that once an foreigner legally enters and resides in the U.S., he will be given the rights promised by the Constitution.
1960-1980
1990s
INA Amendments
(1965)
It abolished the national-origin quotas and started a visa system for family reunification. However, it sets a quota for immigrants from the Western Hemisphere and set a 20,000 limit for immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere. It abolished the national-origin quotas and started a visa system for family reunification. However, it sets a quota for immigrants from the Western Hemisphere and set a 20,000 limit for immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere.
United States vs. Wong Kim Ark
(1898)
The court decision states that illegal immigrants will receive protection from the 14th amendment and thus their children will receive funding for education.The court decision states that illegal immigrants will receive protection from the 14th amendment and thus their children will receive funding for education.
United States vs. Wong Kim Ark
(1898)
It starts to punish employers who were knowingly hiring illegal aliens and provided amnesty to illegal aliens already in the U.S. It also increased border enforcement and prevent any increase in illegal immigrants. It starts to punish employers who were knowingly hiring illegal aliens and provided amnesty to illegal aliens already in the U.S. It also increased border enforcement and prevent any increase in illegal immigrants.
Emergency Quota Act
(1921)
It strengthened the approval process on legal immigration and created diversity admissions category on applications.
2000s
Illegal Immigration Act
(1996)
Phone verification for worker authentication by employers.
Access to welfare benefits more difficult for legal aliens.
Increased border enforcement.
Rodriguez vs. United States
(2000)
Held that statutes which discriminate aliens will comport with the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment and will recieve fair protections.
Enhanced Border Security
& Visa Entry Reform Act
(1853)
The settling court decision states that once a foreigner legally enters and resides in the U.S., he will be given the rights promised by the Constitution.
Real ID Act
(2005)
Required use of IDs meeting certain security standards to enter govt buildings, board planes, open bank accounts.Established national standards for state driver licenses.
Cleared the way for the building of border barriers.