Immigration Timeline

  • Naturalization Act is passed.

    Naturalization Act is passed.
    The Naturalization Act stated that any free white person who has resided in the US for at least two years can become a US citizen.
  • 1798- Alien and Sedition Act is passed.

    1798- Alien and Sedition Act is passed.
    The Alien and Sedition Act allowed the president to deport aliens he thought to be "dangerous" and the number of years an alien had to wait to become a citizen went from 5 years to 14 years.
  • 1819- Reporting of Immigration is established.

    1819- Reporting of Immigration is established.
  • 1868- 14th Amendment mandate on citizenship

    1868- 14th Amendment mandate on citizenship
    The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution states that all persons born in the US are considered citizens. This includes former slaves.
  • 1882- Chinese Exclusion Act is established.

    1882- Chinese Exclusion Act is established.
    "First federal immigration law suspended Chinese immigration for 10 years and barred Chinese in U.S. from citizenship. Also barred convicts, lunatics, and others unable to care for themselves from entering. Head tax placed on immigrants." (Guyette, Falavin & Rooker, n.d.)
  • 1891- Immigration Act

    1891- Immigration Act
    This law was passed to ensure the inspection of deportation of immigrants. It set restrictions on classes that were allowed in the country. Those such as paupers, idiot, convicts and insane persons were not allowed.
  • 1907- Gentleman's Act

    1907- Gentleman's Act
    This was a formal agreement between Japan and the United States where Japan agreed to limit the amount of immigrants from Japan, and the US will eliminate the segregation of Japanese in schools.
  • 1921- Emergency Quota Act

    1921- Emergency Quota Act
    "The Emergency Quota Act was based on a percentage system established limits and restricted the number of immigrants from a given country." (Mexican Immigration to America Timeline, n.d.)
  • 1924- US Border Patrol established.

    1924- US Border Patrol established.
  • 1945- War Bride Act

    1945- War Bride Act
    The War bride act allowed the immigration of children and wives of military personal.
  • 1952- Immigration and Nationality Act

    1952- Immigration and Nationality Act
    The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 allowed persons of all races to become US citizens. There were also tighter restrictions on immigrants coming from British colonies.
  • 1965- Lyndon Johnson passes Hart Cellar Act

    1965- Lyndon Johnson passes Hart Cellar Act
    This act eliminate the national origins quota.
  • 1986 - Immigration Reform Act

    1986 - Immigration Reform Act
    This act banned employers from hiring illegal immigrants and required all employers to provide their workers citizenship status, and legalized certain seasonal immigrant workers.This act also denied illegal immigrants access to federally funded benefits such as social security welfare.
  • 2001- Patriot Act

    2001- Patriot Act
    This act came into effect after the events of 9/11.The act increased border security, set forth surveillance procedures, removed obstacles in investigation of terrorism, and improved intelligence.
  • 2006- Secure Fence Act

    2006- Secure Fence Act
    This law was enacted to detour illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico.