1. 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

2. 1. Laissez-faire Period (1798-1870) Minimal federal regulation, transportation of immigrants 1798: The Aliens Act 1847: Passenger Acts 1864: Commissioner of Immigration

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

7. 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)

8. Bush: New Temporary Worker Program American Workers Come First: Employers must make every reasonable effort to find an American to fill a job before extending job offers to foreign workers. Workplace Enforcement of Immigration Laws: Enforcement against companies that break the law and hire illegal workers will increase. Economic Incentives to Return Home: 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: 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.