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Naturalization Act of 1798
President John Adams is permitted to deport foreigners deemed to be dangerous. The residency requirement is raised to 14 years to prevent immigrants from becoming citizens. -
Irish Potato Famine
Thousands of Irish citizens are forced to immigrate to the U.S. after years of great famine. -
"Antie-Coolie" Act
This law discourages Chinese immigration to California and places taxes on employers who hire Chinese workers. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The 15th Amendment granted voting rights to all citizens regardless of race. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
All Chinese immigration is restricted for ten years. -
Immigration Act of 1882
A 50 cent tax is levied on immigrants landing at all U.S. ports. The law also gives authorities the right to deny entry to convicts, lunatics, idiots and those likely to become public charges. -
Ellis Island Opens
Ellis Island opens to eventually allow more than16 million immigrants to be processed. -
Naturalization Act of 1906
The Naturalization Act of 1906 standardizes naturalization procedures, makes some knowledge of the English language a requirement for citizenship, and establishes the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization in the Commerce Department to oversee national immigration policy. -
Expatriation Act
The Expatriation Act declares that any American woman who marries a foreign national loses her citizenship. -
Border Patrol Created
The Border Patrol is created to combat smuggling and illegal immigration. -
Alien Registration Act
The Alien Registration Act Requires the registration and fingerprinting of all aliens in the U.S. over the age of 14. -
Closing of Ellis Island
Ellis Island closes its doors, ending an era of mass immigration. -
Refugee Act
The Refugee Act allows persecuted individuals to seek Asylum in the U.S. -
Creation of DOHS
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security replaces Imigration and Naturalization Services (INS). -
Secure Fence Act
The Secure Fence Act allows over 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.'s southern border.
