Overview of immigration law from colonial times to present day, including major legislative acts and court decisions.
Sovereignty and Borders: This topic covers the concept of national borders and the role of the state in regulating immigration.
Early U.S. Immigration Policy: The history of immigration law in the United States dates back to the colonial period, and this topic examines early policies and statutes aimed at regulating immigration.
Chinese Exclusion Act: Passed in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was an early federal law that restricted immigration of Chinese laborers.
Naturalization Law: Naturalization law refers to the process by which an immigrant can become a U.S. citizen. This topic covers the history of naturalization law and how it has changed over time.
Ellis Island: Ellis Island was the primary entry point for immigrants to the United States from 1892 to 1954. This topic covers the history of Ellis Island and the role it played in regulating immigration.
Immigration Act of 1924: The Immigration Act of 1924 set quotas for immigration from specific countries, and this topic examines the impact of this law on immigration to the United States.
Mexican Immigration: This topic covers the history of Mexican immigration to the United States and the ways in which the U.S. government has responded to this immigration.
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 replaced previous immigration laws and established the modern system of immigration law in the United States.
Refugee Law: Refugee law refers to the legal framework governing the protection of refugees who flee their home countries due to persecution or other forms of violence. This topic covers the history of refugee law and the ways in which it has been applied to various refugee populations.
Immigration and Reform Control Act of 1986: This law attempted to address the problem of illegal immigration in the United States by providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who had lived in the U.S. for a certain period of time.
Immigration Policy in the 21st Century: This topic covers the current state of immigration policy in the United States and the challenges and opportunities facing policymakers as they attempt to regulate immigration.
Early Immigration Law: This type refers to the laws and policies implemented by colonial America that governed the entry and settlement of migrants.
Naturalization Acts: The Naturalization Acts refer to a series of federal laws enacted between 1790 and 1952 that granted citizenship to certain groups of immigrants.
Chinese Exclusion Acts: The Chinese Exclusion Acts were a series of laws enacted between 1882 and 1902 that restricted the entry of Chinese immigrants into the United States.
National Origins Quota System: This type refers to the federal law that established a quota system in 1924, which restricted the number of immigrants who could enter the United States based on their country of origin.
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, is a federal law that governs immigration to the United States.
Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965: The Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, abolished the national origins quota system and established a new system based on family reunification and employment preferences.
Refugee Act of 1980: The Refugee Act of 1980 is a federal law that established procedures for the admission of refugees into the United States.
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, also known as IIRIRA, implemented several immigration enforcement measures and made notable changes to the immigration system.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Comprehensive Immigration Reform refers to a series of proposed federal laws that seek to address various aspects of immigration policy, including border security, legalization of undocumented immigrants, and reform of the legal immigration system.