U.S. Immigration

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Apr 30, 1882

This act stopped the entry of Chinese immigrants into the Unites States for ten years. This was the first act to establish the federal government's right to restrict immigration based on nationalities.

Restrictions

Apr 30, 1891

More restrictive acts were passed in this year. They allowed the national government not only to exclude certain individuals--convicts, prostitutes, and insane persons, for example--but also to deport aliens who entered the country in violation of these immigration laws.

& More Restrictions

Apr 30, 1891

More restrictive acts were passed in this year. They allowed the national government not only to exclude certain individuals--convicts, prostitutes, and insane persons, for example--but also to deport aliens who entered the country in violation of these immigration laws.

Quota Act of 1921

Apr 30, 1921

This act limited the annual number of immigrants from each nationality to 3 percent of the number of foreign-born persons of that nationality who were living in the United States in 1910.

Immigration Act of 1924

Apr 30, 1924

Established a new quota system fro each nationality and set a limit on the total number of immigrants to be allowed entry at all (150,000 per year). This quota served as the basis for U.S. Immigration policy for more than 35 years.

National Origins Act of 1929

Apr 30, 1929

Established a new quota system fro each nationality and set a limit on the total number of immigrants to be allowed entry at all (150,000 per year). This quota served as the basis for U.S. Immigration policy for more than 35 years.

The Law of 1965

Apr 30, 1965

This law eliminated quotas based on national origin. As many as 270,000 immigrants could be admitted each year without regard to nationality, country of origin, or race. No more than 20,000persons could come from any one country, however. Close relatives of American citizens were given special status, as were aliens with specialized occupational talents.

Immigration Reform and Control Act

Apr 30, 1986

Imposed severe penalties on employers who willfully hired illegal aliens (fines range from $250 to $10,000 for each offense). Employers who repeatedly violate this law can be jailed fro up to six months.

Amnesty Program

Apr 30, 1987

Amnesty is a general pardon for past offenses--in this case, illegally residing in the United States. From the summer of 1987 to the summer of 1988, illegal aliens who could prove that they had been in this country continuously for at least five years could apply to obtain temporary legal residency status. 18 months later, they could apply for permanent residency & eventually apply for citizenship.

Immigration Act of 1990

Apr 30, 1990

This act raised legal immigration levels by about 40 percent, to 700,000 per year. It stressed family reunification, provided legal status for certain illegal immigrants, and struck down barriers blocking people with cedrtain political beliefs from entry. It's most significant feature was tripling the number of visas (to about 140,000 per year) granted to highly skilled professionals, such as engineers, researchers, and scientists.

Proposition 187

Apr 30, 1994

This denied public social services, publicly funded health care, and public education to people who were suspected of being illegal aliens. It required that individuals who were suspected of being illegal aliens be interviewed, questioned, and forced to produce legal residency documents. It required all law enforcement agencies in California to report anyone suspected of being in the UNited States illgally.

Immigration Reform Act of 1996

Apr 30, 1996

This act put into effect a number of provisions to stem illegal immigration. One provision would have forced hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants and refugees to leave the United States.

Welfare Reform Act of 1996

Apr 30, 1996

Prohibited immigrants, including legal immigrants who are not yet citizens, from receiving more forms of public assistance, including welfare benefits.

Revised Policies

Apr 30, 1997

Many Americans though that the new policy towards immigrants was too harsh, so Congress revised it. Under the new policy, many refugees automatically became eligible for permanent legal residence. Other illegal immigrants were allowed to remain in the United States whil the government processed their applications for permanent legal residence. Additionally, immigrants were again made eligible for public-assistance benefits.