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Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act is signed by President Chester Arthur which prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers because people of California blamed them for low wages in the state. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island in New York City is established, which is the gateway for many immigrants until 1954. It will process over 12 million immigrants while it is open. Ellis island closed in the 1950's. -
Angel Island Opens
Angel Island is used as a immigration station which is used to track the flow of Asian immigrants into the country. -
Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is formed to stop illegal immigration and illegal smuggling. -
Alien Registration Act
Required all aliens to be registered and must carry a green card. -
Internal Security Act
Because of the start of the Korean War, the United States passed this act to keep anyone who was Communist from coming into the country. They hoped to keep Korean refugees out of the United States. -
Operation Wetback
This governmental operation led to the deportation of many illegal Mexican immigrants. The United States government was under pressure to keep illegal immigrants out of the country by the Mexican government that discouraged emigration. -
Cuban Refugee Adjustment Act
This act allows any Cuban refugee that has been inspected and admitted into the United States after January 1, 1959 to be ruled a citizen if they had been present for one year. Cuban refugees were fearing persecution during this time period. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
This act made it illegal for employers to knowingly hire illegal immigrants to work for them. It also leaglized immigrants who had entered the United States before January 1, 1982 without penalty. -
Terroristic Attacks
The terroristic attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon lead President Bush to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Department of Homeland security replaces the Immigration and Naturalization Services. -
USA Patriot Act
Requires that all people leaving the United States have an updated passport -
Real I.D. Act
This act attempted to make the Patriot Act stronger. It required that all immigrants must also have a credible form of I.D. such as a driver's license.
