Immigration Timeline

  • 1790 Naturalization Act

    Allowed free white people of good character to apply for citizenship. They also have to have lived in the US for 2 years
  • 1847 Passenger Act

    Created regulations for ships carrying passangers, and listed penalties for not following them.
  • 1918 Wartime Measure

    Ensured that aliens leaving or entering the country followed rules of president. Stated that people using false documents are criminals. Every US citizen must have a passport in order to leave the US.
  • 2006 Secure Fence Act

    Gives DHS controll over US- Mexico border