U.S. Immigration

  • 1790

    1790

    Congress passed a law defining who could become a citizen if a person was not born here: Citizenship was possible only for someone who was "a free white person".
  • Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

    Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

    It said no Chinese laborer could enter the United States for 10 years. Law was lifted during WWII because China was an ally.
  • 1880 and 1920

    1880 and 1920

    During this time is when America was hit the hardest with immigration. 25 million immigrants arrived.
  • Quota Act of 1921

    Quota Act of 1921

    Congress sets up quotas favoring immigrants from the northwestern Europe; The immigration Act of 1924 expands the quota system: immigration from any country is limited to 2 percent of its total numbers in the 1890 census.
  • Immigration Act of 1924

    Immigration Act of 1924

    Each country's immigrants were limited to 2 percent of foreign based residents from that country listed in the U.S. census of 1890.
  • 1965-Immigration reform act

    1965-Immigration reform act

    congress passed the Immigration Reform Act, abolishing the quota system based on national origin.
  • 1986-Immigration Reform and Control Act

    1986-Immigration Reform and Control Act

    The Immigration Reform and Control Act penalizes employers for knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants, but it gives amnesty to some undocumented immigrants, allowing them a path to eventually apply for a citizenship.
  • Immigration Act 1990

    Immigration Act 1990

    it said no country could account for more than 7 percent of total immigrants. Set up categories for war refugees or close relatives of American Citizens.
  • Immigration Reform Act of 1996

    Immigration Reform Act of 1996

    New law expands the U.S. Border Patrol and stiffens penalties for false papers.
  • 2007

    2007

    Bush's bill proposed to fill short-term labor needs through a guest worker program and strengthened border control. Did not propose to track down and deport millions of undocumented workers.