Ourgrations

Mexico-US Border: Immigration Laws

Immigration to this country has taken an interesting course. The United States was founded and inhabited by immigrants, yet now people can not just come live in this country. Laws throughout the the last few centuries have become increasingly limited on the number, and in some cases origin, of immigrants. In time, policy has drawn away from being accepting to those immigrants seeking the American Dream, and instead has become very exclusive. Modern day policy reflects current ideas and feelings regarding immigrants to this country.

History of Immigration Laws in the United States

• The Naturalization Act of 1790 stipulated, "Any alien, being a free white person, may be admitted to become a citizen of the United States"
• 1875 The Supreme Court declared that regulation of US immigration is the responsibility of the Federal Government.
• 1882 The Chinese Exclusion Act prohibited certain laborers, specifically of Chinese origin, from immigrating to the United States.
• 1885 and 1887 The Alien Contract Labor laws prohibited certain laborers from immigrating to the United States.
• 1891 The Federal Government assumed the task of inspecting, admitting, rejecting, and processing all immigrants seeking admission to the U.S.
• 1892 On January 2, a new Federal US immigration station opened on Ellis Island in New York Harbor.
• 1903 A new Act restated the 1891 provisions concerning land borders and called for rules covering entry as well as inspection of aliens crossing the Mexican border.
• 1907 The US immigration Act of 1907 reorganized the states bordering Mexico (Arizona, New Mexico and a large part of Texas) into the Mexican Border District to stem the flow of immigrants into the U.S.
• 1917 - 1924 A series of laws were enacted to further limit the number of new immigrants. These laws established the quota system and imposed passport requirements. They expanded the categories of excludable aliens and banned all Asians except Japanese.
• 1924 An act reduced the number of US immigration visas and allocated them on the basis of national origin.
• 1940 The Alien Registration Act required all aliens (non-U.S. citizens) within the United States to register with the government and receive an Alien Registration Receipt Card (the predecessor of the modern-day "green card").
• 1950 Passage of the Internal Security Act rendered the Alien Registration Receipt Card even more valuable. Immigrants with legal status had their cards replaced with what generally became known as the "green card" (Form I-151).
• 1952 An act established the modern day US immigration system. It created a quota system that imposes limits on a per-country basis. It also established the preference system that gave priority to family members and people with special skills.
• 1968 An act prohibited US immigration discrimination based on race, place of birth, sex and residence. It also officially abolished restrictions on Oriental US immigration.
• 1976 An act ended preferential treatment for residents of the Western Hemisphere.
• 1980 A general policy governing the admission of refugees was created.
• 1986 Focused on curtailing illegal US immigration an act legalized hundred of thousands of illegal immigrants. It also introduced the employer sanctions program, which fines employers for hiring illegal workers, and it further passed tough laws to prevent bogus marriage fraud.
• 1990 An act created an annual limit for certain categories of immigrants. It was aimed at helping U.S. businesses attract skilled foreign workers; thus, it expanded the business class categories to favor persons who can make educational, professional or financial contributions. It created the Immigrant Investor Program.

After the attacks on September 11th, The USA Patriot Act 2001 was instituted with a goal of uniting and strengthening America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism. As of March 1, 2003, the US immigration and Naturalization Service became part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department's new U.S. Citizenship and US immigration Services (USCIS) function is to handle US immigration services and benefits, including citizenship, applications for permanent residence, non-immigrant applications, asylum, and refugee services. US immigration enforcement functions are now under the Department's Border and Transportation Security Directorate, known as the Bureau of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE)

Mexican immigration continues to remain a key issue in American politics today. The issue's complexity requires every national leader, as well as many state leaders, to take a stand. Illegal immigration, as it is today, cannot just be shut down overnight. Although it is inherently against the law, Salgado raises the humanity aspect on the issue. Immigrants cross the border to seek the American Dream and a better life for themselves and their families. With all things considered, all Americans are relatives of immigrants seeking the exact same ideals and goals as modern day immigrants. Because of this, policymakers are pressured by the immigrant population to ease up on laws and regulations. In stark contrast, many oppose Mexican immigration, specifically against those who have crossed the border illegally, due to the effects on the poverty and crime rates. They move to seal off the border entirely.

Each side has its benefits, and its lobbyists. It is unrealistic and financially unfeasible for the United States to build a wall or shut down the border without Mexican cooperation. Future policy in the field of immigration is difficult to predict as the issue is heated. Possible ideas are increased worker permits, or giving aid to boost the Mexican economy and thereby diminishing the reason for exodus, increasing education rates in high minority areas. The United States does not want to close the border completely because it wants to remain friendly with its southern neighbor. It presents a tricky problem whose solution most likely will not be solved soon.

References

Braziel, Jana Evans. History of Migration and Immigration Laws. <http://www.umass.edu/complit/aclanet/USMigrat.html>

Camarota, Steven A. Center for Immigration Studies: Immigration from Mexico. <http://www.cis.org/articles/2001/mexico/execsum.html>