Immigration Issues Throughout History

  • Naturalization Act of 1790

    Limited citizenship to free and white people only
  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

    The treaty that ended the Mexican-American war, but led to racial tension towards Mexicans.
  • Greaser Act

    An anti-Mexican law passed in California that allowed for deportation or arrest from having Spanish or Indian blood.
  • Chinese Exclusion Act

    A law passed that prohibitted all immigration of Chinese laborers
  • Gentleman's Agreement of 1907

    An agreement that Japan made with America that they would not allow Japanese citizens to emigrate to the United States.
  • Immigration Act of 1917

    Barred all immigrants from Asia
  • Immigration Act of 1924

    Limited the number of immigrants who could be admitted to the country
  • Executive Order 9066

    An executive order signed by President Roosevelt that forced all Japanese-Americans to evacuate the West Coast.
  • Red Scare

    Following the start of the spread of Communism, Joseph McCarthy started widespread panic and mistrust of potential communists
  • Operation Wetback

    Deported Mexican workers to combat the problem of illegal immigration.
  • Antiterrorist and Effective Death Penalty Act

    Expanded the ground for deportation for those immigrants who had been convicted of crimes
  • Illegal Immigrant Responsibility Act

    Led to higher levels of deportation of undocumented immigrants living in the United States
  • Patriot Act

    Broadened the scope of those ineligible for citizenship to those suspected of terrorist involvement following 9/11
  • Arizona SB1070

    A law passed in Arizona that allowed for the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
  • Failure of the Dream Act

    Senate fails to pass the Dream Act which would lead to the naturalization of children of undocumented immigrants.