The United States has a long history of immigration laws, with several significant acts passed over the years.
US immigration act New VS Old
Below are just a few examples of the major US immigration acts. The subject of immigration remains a complex and argumentive issue in U.S. politics, with ongoing debates over border security, legal immigration pathways, and the treatment of undocumented immigrants.
Old Immigration Acts:
Immigration Act of 1790:
This was the first U.S. law to establish rules for naturalization. It allowed free white persons of good character to apply for citizenship after residing in the country for two years and taking an oath.
Chinese Exclusion Act (1882):
This was one of the most significant restrictions on immigration in U.S. history. It barred the immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years and prevented Chinese immigrants already in the U.S. from becoming citizens.
Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act):
This act established strict quotas on immigration, favoring immigrants from Northern and Western Europe over those from Southern and Eastern Europe.
It also completely excluded immigrants from Asia.
National Origins Act of 1929:
This act built upon the Immigration Act of 1924 and further restricted immigration by setting annual quotas for each nationality based on the 1920 census.
New Immigration Acts:
Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (McCarran-Walter Act):
1952 act abolished racial restrictions found in previous immigration laws and introduced a system based on reuniting families and attracting skilled labor to the U.S.
It also introduced the preference system for immigrant visas, which is still used today.
Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act):
1965 act marked a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy by abolishing the national origins quota system established in 1924.
Instead, it introduced a preference system based on family relationships and employment skills, opening up immigration to people from all parts of the world on a more equal basis.
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA):
This act aimed to control and reform illegal immigration by granting amnesty to certain undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. before 1982 and penalizing employers who knowingly hired undocumented workers.
It also established new provisions for legal immigration and introduced measures to strengthen border security.
Immigration Act of 1990:
This act further revised and updated the U.S. immigration system, increasing the number of immigrant visas available yearly and expanding the categories of eligible immigrants.
It also introduced the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, which aims to diversify the immigrant population by granting visas to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S.
Immigration Act of 1996 (IIRIRA):
This act significantly changed immigration law, including stricter penalties for immigration-related offenses, expanded grounds for deportation, and restrictions on access to public benefits for specific categories of immigrants.
Comparison between New and Old Immigration Acts
Here’s a comparison table between new US immigration act and US immigration act:
| Aspect | New Immigration Acts | Old Immigration Acts |
|---|---|---|
| Racial and Nationality Restrictions | Abolished racial restrictions. Aimed for inclusivity. | Imposed racial and nationality restrictions. Favored certain ethnicities over others. |
| Quota System | Abolished national origins quota system. Introduced preference system. | Relied on quotas based on national origins. Restricted immigration from certain regions. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Expanded eligibility criteria. Prioritized family reunification and skilled labor. | Narrow and restrictive eligibility criteria. Limited immigration based on ethnicity and nationality. |
| Focus | Focus on enforcement, reform, and expansion of legal immigration pathways. | Focus on maintaining ethnic composition, restricting certain ethnicities, and regulating immigration flow. |
This table highlights some of the key differences between the new immigration acts, which aimed for inclusivity and reform, and the old immigration acts, which often imposed racial and nationality restrictions and relied on quotas to regulate immigration.