Immigration Policy

By radadonald@yahoo.com

  • The Naturalization Act of 1790

    Grants national citizenship to immigrants who were free, white and of good character. However, it excludes American Indians, slaves, free blacks and Asians.

  • Naturalization Act of 1798

    Extended the requirement to become a naturalized citizen to 14 years.

  • Naturalization of 1802

  • Steerage Act

    A mass immigration occured in the US as a result of technological advancements, therefore, to control who and how many immigrants would come into the United States, this law was established which required all captains of ships to provide documentation of their crew and passengers.

  • Expatriation Act of 1868

    This was imposed as a part of giving the citizens their right to renounce their citizenship.

  • Naturalization Act of 1870

    "aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent"

  • The Page Act

    BAns the entry of any individual from Asia to become a forced laborer, or any woman involved in prostitution and people who were convicted of a crime.

  • The Immigration Act of 1882

    Introduced the requirements of immigration; includes fee for coming in the country and create a descriptions of who are not allowed entry.

  • Immigration Act of 1891

    Create the Bureau of Immigration under the Department of Treasury. This bill also added more requirements for people who are wanting to come in the country.

  • Naturalization Act of 1906

    Added the Bureau of Immigration under the Department of Commerce. this bill required people to learn English to obtain citizenship.

  • Immigraiton Act of 1917

    Added more list of characters who cannot enter the country. e.g. "homosexuals, idiots"

  • Alien Registration Act

    Required all non-citizens of ages 14 and above to register and be finger printed by and with the government.

  • The Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act

    Repeals the Immigration ACt of 1917

  • Immigration Act of 1990

    Capped the number of immigrants who can come into the country at 675,000.

  • Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant responsibility Act

    This included more details to the list of immigrants who can be deported to their native country.

  • Real ID ACT of 2005

    Provided a more restricted requirements on obtaining authentication pertaining to security and identification such as driver's licence and passport.