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Naturalization Act of 1790
For the first time, a set of rules for the pertaining to national citizenship of the United States of America. The law gave naturalization, or free citizenship to "white persons of good character." -
Alien and Sedition Acts
Put into place under President John Adams. The Alien and Sedition Acts required that residency for American citizenship be increased from five years to fourteen. Sedition Act also made it lawful for the government to hold, imprison, or deport any "alien" considered to be dangerous. The controversial foreign policy of the federalist prompted protest as well as government repression. -
The first "Illegal Aliens."
Slave trade becomes illegal under President Thomas Jefferson. 50,000 slaves are smuggled into the United States only to become the first "illegal aliens." Slave trade continues within the states, although it is now illegal to abduct and import people into the United States. -
Mexican Cession
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ended the Mexican - American War. As part of the cession, America acquired California, Arizona, New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Some 80,000 Mexicans living in these territories were allowed American citizenship. -
Gold Rush spurs immigration from China
The Gold Rush in California brings increasing number of immigrants from China. Chinese miners are taxed heavier than American citizens. America begins to see more racism against the Chinese. -
Aliens/Immigrants have no rights in California
California courts prohibit Chinese immigrants from speaking against American citizens (whites) during court hearings. Racial hierarchy weighs down on the Chinese, specifically on the West coast, where most Chinese immigrants have come as part of the Gold Rush. -
Lincoln Attempts to Centralize Immigration in the U.S.
President Lincoln passes a new law that allows any immigrant in the military with honorable discharge the opportunity to apply for naturalization with at least one year of residence in the United States. -
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
Congress passes the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, stoping the Chinese from further labor migration. United States citizens blame the Chinese immigrants for unemployment rates. Much of this thought process was encouraged by newspapers of the time. Most Chinese immigrants in America in 1882 worked in gold mines, and on the construction of the railroad. -
The Mexican Revolution
The violence of the Mexican revolution resulted in many Mexicans fleeing Mexico to seek refuge in the United States. The pre established racial hierarchy allows for citizens to feel like the Mexican immigrants do not have the right to be in America. -
Immigration and Nationality Act
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed off on the Immigration and Nationality Act at the foot of the Statue of Liberty in 1965. The Act states that any immigration and naturalization exclusion on the basis of race, sex, or nationality was is strictly prohibited. -
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act
The Simpson - Mazzoli Act set out to reform the pre established Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The act gave illegal aliens the opportunity to apply and gain legal status if they met a new set of requirements. -
The Minuteman Project
The Minuteman Project was a informal militia group. The Minuteman groups focus was to patrol the U.S. - Mexico border, to stop illegal immigration. The group starts to recruit more volunteers because they felt that the government was not fulfilling their obligations to protect the border. -
Secure Fence Act of 2006
The Secure Fence Act allows for the construction of hundreds of miles of double-layered fencing along the U.S. - Mexico border. -
Senate Bill 1070 passed
The United States Supreme Court passes SB1070, otherwise known as "Show Me Your Papers." The senate bill has received much controversy because some say it encourages racial profiling. The bill allows police officers to stop potential immigrants to ask them for their passports/visas, based on the way they look, without just cause. -
Obama Prevents Deportation
President Obama announced executive authority to prevent deportation for 5 million immigrants in the U.S. As expected, this decision comes with much ridicule, particularly regarding the economy of the United States.
