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Uniform Rules
Congress adopts uniform rules so that any free white person could apply for citizenship after two years of residency. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Alien and Sedition Acts required 14 years of residency before citizenship and provided for the deportation of "dangerous" aliens. Changed to five-year residency in 1800. -
War of 1812
The War of 1812 brings immigration to a complete halt as hostilities prevent transport across the ocean. -
Federal Legislation
First significant federal legislation on immigration. Includes reporting of immigration and rules for passengers from US ports bound for Europe. -
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ends Mexican-American War and allows the United States to acquire Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California, and parts of Utah and Nevada from Mexico for $15 million. Mexican residents of the newly acquired territory are allowed to remain. -
Taxing Immigrants
In the Passenger cases the Supreme Court rules that state laws, such as head taxes on arriving immigrants are unconstitutional because only Congress has the power to regulate immigration under the commerce clause of the Constitution. -
Supreme Court
The California Supreme Court bars Chinese immigrants from testifying in any trail involving a white man. -
Dred Scott
Dred Scott decision declared free Africans non-citizens. -
The Naturalization Act
The Naturalization Act is passed, limiting American citizenship to "white persons and persons of African descent," thereby discriminating against Asian immigrants. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act is passed. The first serious prohibition of free immigration in all of American history, this legislation bans Chinese migration to the United States for ten years. It was renewed in 1892 and again in 1902 when Congress moved to make the ban permanent. -
Angel Island Immigration Station
Construction of Angel Island Immigration Station began in the area known as China Cove. Surrounded by public controversy from its inception, the station was finally put into operation in 1910. -
Exclution List
Head tax is raised. People with physical or mental defects, tuberculosis, and children unaccompanied by a parent are added to the exclusion list. Japan agreed to limit emigrants to US in return for elimination of segregating Japanese students in San Francisco schools. -
Citizenship
Japanese made ineligible for citizenship. -
Displaced Persons Act
Displaced Persons Act allowed 205,000 refugees over two years; gave priority to Baltic States refugees; admitted as quota immigrants. Technical provisions discriminated against Catholics and Jews; those were dropped in 1953, and 205,000 refugees were accepted as non-quota immigrants. -
The Refugee Act
The Refugee Act removes refugees as a preference category; reduces worldwide ceiling for immigration to 270,000. -
Immigration Reform and Control Act
Immigration Reform and Control Act provided for amnesty for many illegal aliens and sanctions for employers hiring illegals. -
Permanent Status
A bill gives permanent status to non-immigrant registered nurses who have lived in US for at least three years and met established certification standards. -
Immigration Act of 1990
Immigration Act of 1990 limited unskilled workers to 10,000/year; skilled labor requirements and immediate family reunification major goals. -
USA Patriot Act
USA Patriot Act was created in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and became law less than two months after those attacks. -
Arizona's Immigration Law
Arizona's Immigration Law allows state law officers to determine immigration status during any lawful stop; the requirement to carry alien registration documents; the prohibition on applying for work if unauthorized; and permission for warrantless arrests if there is probable cause the offense would make the person is removable from the United States. -
Alabama Immigration Law
The Alabama Immigration Act requires public schools to check students’ immigration status, criminalizes giving an undocumented immigrant a ride, requires employers to use E-Verify to check potential employees’ status, and instructs police to check the immigration status of anyone they stop if they suspect the person of being an undocumented immigrant.
