HIST 3480: The History of NYC Post-1965 Immigration

2 U.S. Federal Immigration Law  1882 Immigration Act: Federalizes immigration control  1882 Chinese Exclusion Act  1907 “Gentlemen’s Agreement” negotiated with Japan  Dillingham Commission, joint commission of both houses of Congress, concluded that Eastern European and Southern European immigration pose a threat to American society, politics, and culture.  1917 Immigration Act: Added literacy requirement for immigrants over 16, and barred homosexuals, criminals, anarchists, and anyone from the “Asiatic Barred Zone.”  1921 Emergency Quota Act: developed quota system in which 3% of any national group present in 1910 were allowed in.

Post-1965 Immigration 3 U.S. Federal Immigration Law  1924 National Origins Act: Revised 1921 emergency quota law and revised quotas to 2% of population of one group present in 1890; passed to “preserve American homogeneity.”  1943: Chinese Exclusion Act Repealed  1946: Luce-Cellar Act gives Asian Indians and Filipinos the right to naturalize and annual quota of 100 instituted.  1952 Walter-McCarran Act: Abolished “free white” requirement for naturalization, opening it up to Japanese, Koreans, and other Asians.  1965 Immigration Act: Abolished the national origins system to replace it with one based mostly on skill sets and family already present in the United States. Nonetheless, it did continue to prohibit entry to “sexual deviants” like “homosexuals.”  1990 Immigration Act: Strengthened emphasis on family reunification and the admittance of refugees and asylum-seekers; also made path easier for immigrants with specific skills

Post-1965 Immigration 4 Effects of the 1965 Law on NYC  Between 1970 and 2000, the total foreign-born population nearly doubled, from 1.44 million to 2.87 million, while the share of Europeans dropped, from 64 percent to 19 percent.  2000 Census: 2.87 million foreign-born highest ever level at 36 percent of the city’s 8 million. Biggest groups within this number:  Dominicans - 369,200 or 13 percent  Chinese - 262,600  Jamaicans - 178,900  Guyanese - 130,600  Mexicans – 122,600  Rest of top ten: Ecuador, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and Russia

Post-1965 Immigration 5 Effects of the 1965 Law on NYC  Between 1970 and 2000, the total foreign-born population nearly doubled, from 1.44 million to 2.87 million, while the share of Europeans dropped, from 64 percent to 19 percent.  2000 Census: 2.87 million foreign-born highest ever level at 36 percent of the city’s 8 million. Biggest groups within this number:  Dominicans - 369,200 or 13 percent  Chinese - 262,600  Jamaicans - 178,900  Guyanese - 130,600  Mexicans – 122,600  Rest of top ten: Ecuador, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, and Russia

Post-1965 Immigration 6 Effects of the 1965 Law on NYC  2000 Census: Boroughs with greatest number of the 2.87 million foreign born:  Queens - 1,000,000 (36%)  Brooklyn - 931,800 (33%)  Manhattan - 452,400 (16%)  Bronx - 385,800 (13%)  Staten Island - 72,700 (3 %)

Post-1965 Immigration 7 Effects of the 1965 Law on NYC  2000 Census: Biggest Immigrant Neighborhoods (# of foreign born)  Washington Heights - 90,300  Flushing - 86,900  Astoria - 84,700  Bay Ridge-Bensonhurst - 78,600  Elmhurst - 74,600  Rest of top ten: Gravesend-Homecrest, Flatlands- Canarsie, Jackson Heights, Corona, and Sunset Park- Industry City

Post-1965 Immigration 8 Trends from 2010 Census  Slight Increase in Foreign-Born Population: From 36% in 2000 to 37% in 2010, but still a new peak, and double the 1965 percentage  Dominican Republic biggest source of foreign-born – 380,2000  China has become second biggest – 350,200  Mexico has moved into third place – 186,300  Jamaica is fourth – 169,200  Guyana if fifth – 139,000  Top ten is rounded out by Ecuador, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, India, and Russia