-
Homestead Act of 1862
The U.S. government was giving away free land to be made into something more. The people that were allowed to be a homesteader were; head of the household, immigrants, farmers that did not have their own land, single women, and former slaves, as long as they were over 21. Immigrants were allowed to make their own farms and houses. -
The 14th Amendment
If a child is born in the U.S., it is automatically a U.S. citizen. Today the term "anchor baby" has come form this. So illigal immigrants are coming here and have legal children, then the parents too get citizenship. -
Page Act of 1875
This act dealt with asian immigrants. This was the first law made to prohibit the entry of immigrants who were seen as "undesirable". These people were coming to America to be a contract worker, a prostitute, and any person that was a convict in their home country. This is still relevant because now we try to keep the gender ratio close to even. -
Immigration Act of 1917
All immigrants over the age of 16 have to take a literacy test. People still have to pass literacy tests today. -
US border patrol
Made to stop illigal immigration into the United States from Canada and Mexico. Is still a big issue today. -
American Dream
The "Epic of America" was published in 1931, by James Truslow Adams, who made the term "American Dream" popular. This gave people the chance from all over the world (immigrants) and already in America, to come and have the chance to make something of themselves that they could not achieve where they were coming from. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
It took away the Immigration Act of 1924, which set a 2% limit on immigrants from an individual country. More people were allowed to come to the U.S. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Granted legal amnesty to illigal immigrants that had lived in the United States before 1982 and made it illigal to knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants. -
Creation of The American Immigration Council
(I could not find the ecaxt day this foundation was created)
Their mission is to help educate Americans on immigration and keep America full of cultural diversity. They smooth the rough edges for the population. -
Immigration Act of 1990
Even more peope annually were allowed into the United States. In this act, homosexuality and having AIDS were no longer allowed to be a decision factor. It basically changed the preferences for admission. -
Diversity Immigrant Visa
The Immigration Act of 1990 established the Diversity Visa program. Every year a total of 55,000 permanent residency visas are given to coutries with low immigration rates to the United States. This is still going on in 2012, people can enter for 2014 already. -
US commission on immigration reform
This came from Immigration Act of 1990, it started in 1995 (I could not find a specific date). Ran by former Texas Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, the goal was to create a "credible, coherent immigrant and immigration policy" and a "credible, efficient naturalization process". This commision made the biggest impact on immigration reform than any other to date! -
The DREAM Act
First introduced August 1, 2001 but never officially passed. Seperate states have their own verisons. This act will give permanent residency to immigrants to fit guidelines like; have been in the U.S. before their 16th birthday, must have graduated from High School/ have aGED/be enrolled in College, be under 30 years old, and no convictions. -
SB 1070
The police can check the immigration status of a person that has been stopped for some reason. If the person is found to be in the U.S. illegally can be fined, then later put into jail. This is a very touchy subject, especially in Arizona. Some people consider this racist. -
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Came from the DREAM Act never being passed, and about the same guidlines as the DREAM Act. If you (an immigrant) meet all the guidelines, you are able to defer deportation by 2 years and you can apply more than once. -
House passes STEM Jobs Act to Senate
The STEM Jobs Act is being made to allow immigrants that graduate from American universitys in the field of science, technology, engineering, or math to, instead of waiting for a green card, can be hired immidiately by American employers.
