Immigration and Law

Immigration in America can trace its roots back to the birth of the nation. Immigrants founded the United States, as well as the colonies that preceded it. Following the American Revolution, the U.S. government sought to distance itself from its British heritage with a new American nationality. The first official American citizenship law was put into place in 1790, as the Naturalization Act. Prior to this act, no one in the U.S. was an official citizen, however, this first law only granted citizenship to a select group of people. White men, who had lived in the U.S. for a minimum of two years, could obtain American citizenship.

Immigration to America had its first breakthrough from 1814 to 1855, when roughly five million northern and western Europeans made the trek to the U.S. seeking political freedom and capital gain. Immigration laws at this time lacked order and still granted citizenship only to white males or contract laborers. This excluded those who migrated from southern Europe in the late 19^th century, such as Jews and Slavs. During this time, the U.S. prohibited prostitutes and criminals from gaining entrance to the country as well as an official “Chinese Exclusion Act” of 1882 that lasted until 1943.

In 1921, Immigration laws were established based on quotas for specific nationalities, but these laws were later repealed. It was around this time that border patrols began taking effect in the United States. During the 1940s, foreign agriculture workers from Central and South America were imported as American workers and were granted citizenship. Beginning with these contract workers, immigrant’s families were allowed to become citizens as well.  

Throughout the 20^th century and into the 21^st, more laws were passed that allowed for a total quota of immigrants per year in a non-discriminating manner, yet the requirements in the admission process for immigrants became stricter, and border enforcement was revised to become stronger to what they are today.

"History of U.S. Immigration Laws." History of U.S. Immigration Laws. Fairus.org, n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.fairus.org/facts/us_laws>.

"Important Factors Affecting Immigration." - HG.org. HG Legal Resources, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=30968>.

"Laws, Regulations, and Guides Immigration and Nationality Act." Homepage. USCIS, n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2014. <http://www.uscis.gov/laws/laws-regulations-and-guides-immigration-and-nationality-act>.