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Massachusetts Requires Permission to Host Aliens
"In May of 1637, the General Court of Massachusetts ordered that no town or person in the colony should receive or host any alien without permission from the authorities" Source: http://immigration.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002690 -
Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
"Passed in preparation for an anticipated war with France, the Alien and Sedition Acts tightened restrictions on foreign-born Americans and limited speech critical of the Government." Source: http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=16 -
The importation of slaves into the United States is prohibited
As of January 1, 1808: " it shall not be lawful to import or bring into the United States or the territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place, or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such negro, mulatto, or person of colour, as a slave, or to be held to service or labour. Source: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sl004.asp -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed
"On this day in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed, ending the Mexican-American War in favor of the United States. The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo added an additional 525,000 square miles to United States territory, including the area that would become the states of Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming." Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo-is-signed -
Supreme Court Rules that Congress Alone Can Regulate Immigration
"1) although the Constitution said nothing about immigration directly, it was clearly 'foreign commerce,' which the Constitution explicitly reserved to Congress; and 2) Congress's jurisdiction was preemptive so that even in the absence of any federal legislation, state governments could not regulate immigration." Source: http://immigration.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002690 -
President Lincoln Acts to Prohibit the "Coolie Trade"
"Lincoln signed 'An Act to Prohibit the 'Coolie Trade' by American Citizens in American Vessels' in February 1862. ...[T]he legislation simply outlawed any shipment of Chinese subjects 'known as 'coolies' abroad 'to be held to service or labor.' Virtually all Chinese subjects leaving China were known as 'coolies.' " Source: http://immigration.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002690 -
Homestead Act
"a program designed to grant public land to small farmers at low cost. The act gave 160 acres of land to any applicant who was the head of a household and 21 years or older, provided that the person settled on the land for five years and then paid a small filing fee. If settlers wished to obtain title earlier, they could do so after six months by paying $1.25 an acre." Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-homestead-act -
First Congressional Attempt to Centralize Immigration Control
"First Congressional attempt to centralize control of immigration.
a. A Commissioner of Immigration was appointed by the President to serve under the authority of the Secretary of State.
b. Authorized immigrant labor contracts whereby would-be immigrants would pledge their wages to pay for transportation." Source: http://immigration.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002690 -
Ellis Island Opened
"Ellis Island was the former federal immigration processing station which processed over 12 million third class and steerage immigrants between 1892 and 1954." Source: http://www.nps.gov/elis/faqs.htm -
1917 Immigration Act
"An act to regulate the immigration of aliens to, and the residence of aliens in, the United States" Source: http://library.uwb.edu/guides/usimmigration/1917_immigration_act.html -
The Alien Registration Act was passed by Congress
"The Alien Registration Act (also known as the Smith Act) was passed by Congress on 29th June, 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the government. The law also required all alien residents in the United States over 14 years of age to file a comprehensive statement of their personal and occupational status and a record of their political beliefs." Source: http://immigration.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002 -
The Immigration Act of 1965
"The Immigration Act of 1965 removes the national origins quota system. It establishes a ceiling of 270,000 immigrants per year with no more than 20,000 from one country. It creates a system of preferences, with highest priority given to family reunification." Source: http://www.unc.edu/~perreira/198timeline.html -
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)
"Public Law 99-603 (Act of 11/6/86), which was passed in order to control and deter illegal immigration to the United States. Its major provisions stipulate legalization of undocumented aliens who had been continuously unlawfully present since 1982, legalization of certain agricultural workers, sanctions for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers, and increased enforcement at U.S. borders." Source: http://www.uscis.gov/ -
2006 Secure Fence Act
"An act to establish operational control over the international land and maritime borders of the United States" Source: http://library.uwb.edu/guides/usimmigration/2006_secure_fence_act.html -
SB 1070, “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” was approved by the Arizona Legislature
"SB 1070 includes provisions adding state penalties relating to immigration law enforcement including trespassing, harboring and transporting illegal immigrants, alien registration documents, employer sanctions, and human smuggling. " Source: http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/immig/analysis-of-arizonas-immigration-law.aspx
