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Naturalization Act
The initial legistlation providing closure as to who could be considered a citizen. This is the basis of immigration legislation. -
Irish Potato Famine
Around 1840-1850, over a million people emigrated from Ireland to escape the famine. Hundreds of thousands of people relocated to New England and by 1850 a large part of the Northeastern American region was Irish. -
Page Act
The Page Act was the very first law in regards to immigration within the United States. This act made it illegal to bring any person(s) into the United States from Asia against their will. It also declared it illegal to bring a woman into the United States for prostitution. -
Chinese Exclusion Act
This act created a 10 year freeze on Chinese immigration. This piece of legislation made new immigrants gain permission from the U.S. government in order to immigrate for work. Any Chinese-American citizens who left America had to be authorized to re-enter the country. -
Ellis Island Opens
In the first year of its operation, Ellis Island processed over 450,000 immigrants. From 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island has had over 12 million people enter the United States. -
Geary Act
This is the reauthorization of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This extension required Chinese-American citizens to gain written authorization from the United States in order to immigrate or reenter the country. -
Naturalization Act
A revision to the first Naturalization Act and made new immigrants learn English prior to gaining citizenship. This act also created the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. -
Angel Island Opens
Known as the Ellis Island of the West,Angel Island served as a major port of entry for those emigrating to America from Eastern Asian countries, primarily from China. -
Immigration Act
People were no longer allowed to emigrate to America if they were Japanese, Eastern European, or Jewish. This was in response to the high volume of immigrants and to the U.S. citizens who wanted to protect their job security. -
Magnuson Act, Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act
Allowed Chinese immigration for the first time since 1882, and even allowed some Chinese-American residents to become citizens. Chinese-American citizens were still not allowed to own property or businesses. -
Immigration and Nationality Act
This act prohibited the discrimination of keeping someone from immigrating to the United States based on racial restrictions. -
Refugee Act
This act redefined "Refugee" and also served as a means to allow more refugees to immigrate to the United States. -
Immigration Act
This act allowed for up to 700,000 immigrants to enter the United States every year. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
Created a proof of vaccination from immigrants. Stated that the Attorney General must develop a system which will track illegal immigration within the United States. -
Dream Act
First proposed, has not been passed. The DREAM Act will enable illegal immigrants permanent residency to those who are considered "a good, moral citizen" and have completed either two years of higher education or service in the United States Armed Forces. -
United We Dream
Taken from group website's mission statement: "United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, a powerful nonpartisan network made up of 52 affiliate organizations in 25 states. We organize and advocate for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status. UWD’s current priority is to win citizenship for the entire undocumented community and end senseless deportations and abuses."