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Congress bans importation of African-American slaves
This act, which was made in 1807 but started in 1808, prohibited more African-Americans slaves to come into the United States. This was one of the United State's first laws about immigrants. The significance of this act is that it lead to the United States turning this act of bringing these slaves to America as "piracy" which resulted in the death penalty. -
California Gold Rush
The Gold Rush in California influenced many people to immigrate to the United States. Proving that the United States is a great place to live and people want to come here to get gold or in our case now, jobs. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act prevented any Chinese without any family already in the United States from immigrating to the United States. This drastically influenced the amount of Chinese-Americans immigrating to the States. This really shows how much America has changed in 200 year. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island, located in New York, officially opened in 1892. This was a place for many European immigrants to come through and start their new lives in the United States. This port let almost 22 million immigrants come through into our country. This was the major start to immigration in our country and truly making ourselves a "melting pot". -
Angel Island Opens
Angel Island, located in San Fransisco, California, was the location of immigration for Asians. Obviously, the opening of this port means that the Chinese Exclusion Act placed 28 years earlier, was no longer in place. The opening of this port let about 170,000 immigrants come through. Futher adding to our "melting pot". -
Immigration Act of 1917
This act required immigrants to pass a literacy test. If immigrants want to become citizens currently in 2015, they have to pass a few tests. -
Border Patrol is created
Border Patrol is a very important part of protecting our borders. They prevent illegal immigrants from coming into our country and also prevent smuggling. -
Alien Registration Act
The Alien Registration Act required all immigrants to get registered and fingerprintted who were over the age of 14. The act shows importance now in terms of what we have immigrants do now. There are specific paperwork or things immigrants need to do if they are working or living in our country legally. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
This act abolished the national origins quota system that had structured American immigration policy since the 1920s, replacing it with a preference system that focused on immigrants' skills and family relationships with citizens or residents of the U.S. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
This act made it illegal to hire illegal immigrants to work knowingly. This is still in effect today and sometimes requires buisnesses to shut down or to rehire workers if there are illegal immigrants working there. -
Illegal Immigration Act
This act increased border control and also made it more difficult for illegal immigrants to get welfare. Today, we are still increasing control on our borders and also making it more difficult for illegal immigrants to be here illegally. -
REAL ID Act of 2005
This act requires states to verify a person’s immigration status or citizenship before issuing licenses, expands restrictions on refugees requesting asylum, and limits the habeas corpus rights of immigrants. -
Arizona SB1070
SB1070 required people to show their proof of immigration status if stopped by officials. This was a very controversial time in Arizona and still continues to make headlines today. -
DREAM Act
This act provides a pathway to citizenship for young undocumented Americans. Whether this be college or work, these young people get a chance to a future they may not have gotten in their home country. -
Page Act of 1875
This act was the first federal immigration law and prohibited the entry of immigrants considered "undesirable." The law classified as "undesirable" anyone from Asia who was coming to America to be a forced laborer, any Asian woman who would engage in prostitution, and all people considered to be convicts in their own country.
