Immigration Laws in the
United States
A History
Alien and Sedition Act (1789)
 Allowed the President to remove
any person from the U.S. that he
felt should not be allowed to stay.
 Only lasted 2 years
14th Amendment
14th Amendment made African
American’s citizens.
African Americans were not
new immigrants however, this
was the first time African
Americans were granted
citizenships.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)
 The United States used Asian
immigrants to build the railroad
system that allowed for westward
expansion.
 However after the railroad was built
the U.S. no longer wanted the
immigrants.
 The Exclusion act barried Chinese
immigrants from coming to the U.S.
Immigration Act of 1924
 Barred entry into the U.S. for both
Chinese and Japanese immigrants.
 The United States still feared
Asian immigrants and was
concerned about the Japanese
growing alliance with U.S
enemies.
National Origins Act (1924)
 Established a quota system for
immigrant groups that the U.S.
deemed desirable and undesirable.
 European countries were given
much larger quotas than other
countries.
American Indian Citizenship (1924)
 Granted citizenships to American
Indians.
Magnuson Act (1943)
 Finally gave citizenship to Asian
Americans who had been living in
the United States for over a
hundred years.
 Established a quota system for
Asians immigrants.
Refugee Act of 1953
 Granted entry into the U.S. for over
500,000 people who had been
displaced by war.
Immigrant Act (1965)
 Repealed quota systems and
allowed immigrants from all
countries to apply for entry into the
U.S.