U.S. Immigration

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Apr 4, 1882

Stopped the entry of Chinese immigrants into the U.S. for 10 years. This was the first act to establish the federal government's right to restrict immigration based on nationalities.

1888 and 1891

Apr 28, 1890

Several resctrictive acts were passed that allowed the national government to exclude certain individuals and deport aliens whose entrance into the country violated the immigration laws.

Quota Act of 1921

Apr 28, 1921

Limited the annual number of immigrants from each nationality to 3% of the number of foreign-born persons of that nationality who were living in the U.S. in 1910

Immigration Act of 1924 and National Origins Act of 1929

Apr 28, 1929

Each established a new quota system for each nationality and set a limit on the total number of immigrants to be allowed entry at all. This quota system served as the basis for U.S. immigration policy for more than 35 years.

1965

Apr 28, 1965

Quotas were eliminated based on national origin. As many as 270,000 immigrants could be admitted each year without regard to nationality, country of origin, or race.

1986 - Immigration Reform and Control Act

Apr 29, 1986

Imposed severe penalties on employers who willfully hired illegal aliens.

1987-88 Amnesty Program

Apr 29, 1988

Said that illegal aliens who could prove they have been in the country for at least 5 years could apply to obtain temporary legal residency status. 18 months later, they could apply for permanent residency and eventually, citizenship.

Immigration Act of 1990

Apr 29, 1990

Raised legal immigration levels to about 40% (700,000 per year). It stressed family reunification, provided legal status for certain illegal immigrants, and struck down barriers blocking people with certain political beliefs from entry,

1994 - Proposition 187

Apr 29, 1994

Denied public social services, publicly funded health care, and public education to people who were suspected of being illegal aliens. People who were suspected of being illegal aliens were interviewed, questioned, and forced to provide legal residency documents.

Immigration Reform Act of 1996

Apr 29, 1996

Was thought to be too harsh - hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and refugees would have had to leave the U.S.

Welfare Reform Act of 1996

May 2, 1996

Prohibited immigrants, including legal ones awaiting citizenship, from recieving forms of public assistance like welfare benefits.

1997

May 2, 1997

Many Americans felt the new policies towards immigrants were too harsh. Due to a new policy, many refugees became automatically eligible for permanent legal residence. Other illegal immigrants were allowed to stay in the U.S. while their citizenship applications were processed and they were able to recieve public assistance benefits.