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U.S. Constitution: Article 1 Section 8
The U.S. constitution is ratified, along with it is Article 1 section 8 which gives congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. -
Naturalization Act of 1790
Established the first set of rules for naturalization, but naturalization was limited to immigrants that were free and white. An individual had to be a resident for two years to be naturalized. -
Naturalization Act of 1795
Replaced the Naturalization Act of 1790. Now an individual had to have five years of residence to be naturalized. This act also added a 2 year notice time for starting the naturalization process. -
Naturalization Act of 1798
This act once again increased the residence time to 14 years from 5, and increased the the notice time for starting the naturalization process to 5 years. -
Fourteenth Amendment
Gives citizenship to individuals born in the United States. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This act prohibited the immigration of all chinese laborers. It was not repealed until 1943. -
Immigration Act of 1917
Created a list of "undesirables" that were not permitted to enter the country including: criminals, homosexuals, alcoholics, mentally disabled, and many others. -
Immigration Act of 1924
Limited the number of individuals that could come into the country annualy from from any country to 2% of the number already from the country in the U.S. -
Bracero program
A series of laws guarenteed a minimum wage and basic human rights to Mexican Farm laborers, it also allowed for mexican contractors to come into the country temporarily. -
Luce–Celler Act of 1946
Established a quota of at least 100 Filipinos and 100 Indians to come into the country per year. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952
The act eliminated racial restrictions in immigration statutes, and also allowed the government to deport immigrants for subversive actions. -
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
Abolished previously established quota systems, and replaced them with visa preference categories such as: immigrant skills and family already in the U.S. -
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
This act included a number of provisions related to terrorism including: providing victims of terrorism with restitution, deportation of immigrant terrorists, several changes to crimanal law pertaing to terrorism, and saveral more. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
This act set new rules for illegal immigrants; they would be deported, and were banned from the country for a a number of years which depended on how long they were in the country illegally. -
REAL ID Act
Had several provisions related to identification cards including: new standards for receiving an ID card, temporary worker, nurses, and Australian citizens had their visa limits changed, and the laws on asylum aplications were changed. This act also waived any laws that prohibited the construction of physical barriers on borders.
