Brief History of US Immigration Policy Ellis Island Inspection Station, c. 1910

 Early Republic Open to “free white men”  Citizenship (Naturalization Act 1802) Good moral character Loyalty to the Constitution Declaration of Intention

 Homestead Acts 1860s Promise of land encourages immigration  “Old Immigrants”

Know Nothing Movement Native American Party

Nativist Riot, Hoboken 1851

 Beginning of tougher regulations  Immigration Act of 1882 Head tax on immigrants (50 cents) Blocked entry of “lunatics”, convicts and destitute Immigration made a federal responsibility

 Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 Severely limited Chinese immigration Not repealed until 1943  Immigration Act of 1891 Office of Immigration (later, INS)  1892: Ellis Island opens

 : 14.5 million immigrants  The “New” Immigrants

 Immigration Act of 1917 Literacy requirement “Asiatic Barred Zone”  All of Asia excluded, except Japan Passed by Congress over Wilson’s Veto  Quota Act of 1921 Limits based on existing American population

 Immigration Act of 1924 Annual quotas set at 2% of current non-resident population for each nationality (National Origins System) Exceptions:  Wives and children  Western hemisphere Beginning of illegal immigration as a problem

 National origins system replaced in 1965  “Preference” System Unite families Skilled workers  Refugee Act of 1980 Distinguishes those seeking asylum from those wishing to immigrate