1. 1920’s Immigration Restriction

2. 1921 Emergency Quota Act
Immigrants per year cannot exceed 3% of total # of people from that country already in the U.S.
Ethnic & National identity determined admission to U.S.
U.S. President Harding signed
Morphs into the 1924 National Origins Act

3. 1924 National Origins Act
Immigration per year cannot exceed 2% of total # of people from that country already in the U.S.
Permanent Policy – lasted 40 years
Based on the 1890 Census
Excluded Southern & Eastern European immigrants

4. Exemptions, Exclusions & Adjustments
Excluded Asians –
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
1892 & 1902 Renewed Indefinitely
1924 Asian Exclusion Act – Part of National Origins Act
Adjusted Native American Citizenship status
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
Interpretation of 14th Amendment
Citizenship to persons born in the U.S. only if “subject to the jurisdiction of”
Exempted Hispanic immigration from Western Hemisphere
Mexican agriculture workers needed

6. Mexican Immigrantion 1965 End to national-origin quotas
1st numerical limits to immigrants from
Mexico
Latin America
Majority – males, seasonal farm laborers
Traveled back and forth across the border
1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act (IRCA)
Legalized 3 m. unauthorized migrants
2.3 m. Mexicans
Tougher border enforcement
Penalties for Am. Co. that hired unauthorized workers

7. Mexican Immigration 1990-2010 7.5 m. Mexican immigrants 1994 NAFTA
Staying in the U.S.
California – 37% - Los Angeles
Texas – 21% - Houston
Illinois – 6% - Chicago
1994 NAFTA
North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement
Mexico, U.S., Canada
U.S. – lost manufacturing
Mexico’s GDP increased 15%
2001 – Post 911 – increased border security
Decreased immigration - 5%

8. President Obama’ 2014 Immigration Accountability Executive Action
Series of changes, updates, & temporary measures
Protection for parents of U.S. citizens
Goal: immigration as a tool for social and economic growth
Congress has not acted on the proposals
Beyond the border...