Because immigration is such a hot-button issue in this election, let’s examine how immigration policy has changed throughout American history, from the early colonial era to the present day.
Immigration Policy: Colonial Era
In the early colonial period, immigration to the United States was primarily driven by economic opportunities and religious freedom. European settlers, including English, Dutch, and French, came to the New World seeking land, wealth, and religious tolerance. During this time, there were few formal immigration policies, and most individuals were free to immigrate to the colonies.
As the United States grew and developed, immigration policy began to become more restrictive. In the 19th century, the government enacted a series of laws to limit the influx of immigrants, particularly those from Southern and Eastern Europe. These laws, such as the Naturalization Act of 1855 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, were designed to protect American jobs and maintain cultural homogeneity.
Immigration Policy: Early 20th Century
The early 20th century saw a significant shift in immigration policy, as the United States experienced a surge in immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. In response, Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1924, which established national origin quotas that favored immigrants from Northern and Western Europe. This policy was designed to restrict immigration from countries deemed “undesirable” and to maintain the country’s Anglo-Saxon heritage.
In the mid-20th century, immigration policy began to liberalize. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished the national origin quotas and established a preference system based on family ties and occupational skills. This act marked a significant departure from previous policies and opened the door for immigrants from a wider range of countries.
Immigration Policy: In Recent Decades and The Future
In recent decades, immigration policy has continued to evolve. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 sought to address the issue of undocumented immigration by providing amnesty for certain undocumented immigrants and imposing stricter penalties on employers who hired them. However, the act did not fully resolve the problem, and undocumented immigration remains a significant challenge.
Regardless of the continuous demonization of undocumented immigrants, or “illegals” as the Right calls them, a recent study found that they paid $100 billion in local, state, and federal taxes in one year.
The Trump administration implemented a series of policies aimed at restricting immigration, including travel bans for citizens of certain countries, (and of a certain religion) and increased border security.
No one will forget his cruel family separation policy where children were taken from their parents to deter other families from coming to the United States via the Southern border. Parents who were reunited with their children six years later referred to it as “kidnapping.” President Biden took office in 2021 and ordered the DHS to begin reuniting separated families. To this day there are children whose parents can’t be located. These policies were met with both support and opposition, and their long-term impact will continue for years—especially for the separated families yet to be reunited.
Immigration policy in the United States has undergone significant changes over time, reflecting the country’s evolving economic, political, and social circumstances.
The Republican party complains about circumstances surrounding immigration, but as a part of Congress, nothing will be done about it—until we have a Democratic majority once again. Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed to sign the bipartisan border security bill if she is elected President. If Trump “allows” Republicans in Congress to vote for it, that is. He wouldn’t want Kamala Harris to get “the win”, after all.
While the United States has traditionally been a nation of immigrants, its policies have varied greatly in terms of openness and restrictiveness. As the country continues to grapple with issues of economic growth and national security—and Conservatives struggle with diversity and the White race no longer being in the majority—immigration policy will likely remain a subject of ongoing debate and reform.
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