U.S. Immigration Policy

Four main phases:





1798 – 1875: laissez-faire
1875 – 1920: selective restriction
1921 - 1964: national origin quota
1965 –
: family reunification, skill preference
2004: Bush’s new proposal
1. Laissez-faire Period (1798-1870)
Minimal federal regulation, transportation
of immigrants
 1798: The Aliens Act
 1847: Passenger Acts
 1864: Commissioner of Immigration

2. Selective Restriction (1870-1920)

1875 Immigration Act
 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
“During their entire settlement in California they have never adapted themselves to
our habits, mode of dress, or our educational system, have never learned the
sanctity of an oath, never desired to become citizens, or to perform the duties of
citizenship, never discovered the difference between right and wrong, never
ceased the worship of their idol gods, or advanced a step beyond the traditions of
their native hive. Impregnable to all the influences of our Anglo-Saxon life, they
remain the same stolid Asiatics that have floated on the rivers and slaved in the
fields of China for thirty centuries of time”

1885 Contract Labor Law
 1891: Bureau of Immigration
 1907: Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan
 1917 Immigration Act
3. National Origin Quota (1921-1964)







1921 Quota Act
1924 Immigration Act
1929; 1937; 1940
1943 “Bracero Program”; 105 for Chinese
1945; 1948; 1950
1952 Immigration and Nationality Act
(McCarran-Walter Act)
1964 terminated Bracero Program
4. Family, Skill Preference (1965-now)

1965 Immigration and Nationality Act
Amendments





Abolished the national origin quota system
First-come first served, family and occupational
preference
Hemisphere quotas
Special individuals
Labor certification
4. Family, Skill Preference (1965-now)




1965 Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments
1980 Refugee Act
1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA)
1990 Immigration Act




A flexible worldwide cap of 675,000
Family, employment and country limit
Diversity immigrants
1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act
 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act (IIRIRA)
Bush: New Temporary Worker Program

American Workers Come First:


Workplace Enforcement of Immigration Laws:


The U.S. will work with other countries to allow aliens working in the U.S. to
receive credit in their nations' retirement systems and will support the creation
of tax-preferred savings accounts they can collect when they return to their
native countries.
Fair and Meaningful Citizenship Process:


Enforcement against companies that break the law and hire illegal workers
will increase.
Economic Incentives to Return Home:


Employers must make every reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job
before extending job offers to foreign workers.
Some temporary workers will want to remain in America and pursue
citizenship. They should not receive an unfair advantage over those who have
followed the law, and they will need to be placed in line for citizenship behind
those who are already in line. Those who choose the path of citizenship will
have an obligation to learn the facts and ideals that have shaped America's
history.
Reasonable Annual Increase of Legal Immigrants:

A reasonable increase in the annual limit of legal immigrants will benefit those
who follow the lawful path to citizenship.