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Statue of Liberty
President Grover Cleveland dedicated the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, in New York Harbor. This soon became a national symbol of the United States freedom and when immigrants would see this statue in the harbor, it was a sign that they have finally reached the land of opportunity. -
First Major Wave
From the timespan of 1891 - 1900 over 3,687,564 immigrants have arrived to Ellis Island, New York City. -
Congresses First Step
Congress makes persons suffering from a loathsome or a dangerous contagious disease, those convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, and polygamists ineligible for immigration. Congress also establishes the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration within the Treasury Department. This was their first major steps to the major waves of immigration to the US. -
The Geary Act
Extends the Chinese Exclusion Act by 10 years, and adds the requirement that all Chinese residents carry permits and excludes them from serving as witnesses in court. -
Ellis Island Officially Opens
Ellis Island, the small island that every immigrant must pass through to gain access to the United States, now officially opens to all immigrants entering the US. -
Anarchist Exclusion Act
After President William McKinley is shot by a Polish anarchist and dies a week later, Congress creates the Anarchist Exclusion Act, which prohibits the entry into the US of people judged to be anarchists and political extremists. -
The Naturalization Act of 1906
Makes knowledge of the English language a must for all new immigrants coming in, and establishes the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization in the Commerce Department to oversee national immigration policy. -
The Expatriation Act
This act declares that any American woman who marries a foreign national, will lose her citizenship. -
The Dillingham Commission
This commission was established by congress to investigate the affects of immigration on the United States. -
Peak of Italians
5,735,811 Immigrants arrive, 2 million of which are Italians which is the peak number of them migrating to the US. -
WWI
The United States enters World War 1 -
Literacy Requirement
The law requires immigrants to be able to read 40 words in some language and bans immigration from Asia, except for Japan and the Philippines. -
Immigration Act of 1917
The Immigration Act of 1917 restricts immigration from Asia by creating an "Asiatic Barred Zone." -
Immigration Act of 1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 limits annual European immigration to 2% of the number of people from that country living in the United States in 1890. The Act greatly reduces immigration from Southern and Eastern European nationalities that had only small populations in the US in 1890. -
Border Patrol is Established
The Border Patrol is established to combat against illigal immigration to the United States. -
Alien Registration Act
The Alien Registration Act requires the registration and fingerprinting of all aliens in the United States over the age of 14. -
The Immigration and Nationality Act
The Immigration and Nationality Act allows individuals of all races to be eligible for naturalization. The act also reaffirms national origins quota system, limits immigration from the Eastern Hemisphere while leaving the Western Hemisphere unrestricted, establishes preferences for skilled workers and relatives of U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens; and tightens security and screening standards and procedures. -
Immigration Act of 1965
The Immigration Act of 1965 abolishes quota system in favor of quota systems with 20,000 immigrants per country limits. Preference is given to immediate families of immigrants and skilled workers. -
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
Legalizes illegal aliens residing in the U.S. unlawfully since 1982. -
Bring Them Home Alive Act
Any foreigner who brings back a living POW or MIA from the Vietnam War or Korean War will not be considered an Illigal alien. -
Stronger Borders
9/11, This major disaster made the government strengthen the borders from immigrants and made security detail much higher and harder. -
Secure Fence Act
General of Homeland Security authorizes the 700 miles of high fencing to be built on our nations southern border between the US and Mexico to help stop the illigal importation of contraband and Illigal immigrants.
