Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
First U.S. law to ban immigration based on nationality, targeting Chinese laborers.
Immigration Bureau Formed
Established to oversee immigration and enforce federal laws.
Expatriation Act
Stripped U.S. women of citizenship if they married foreign men.
Banned Zone Act
Restricted immigration from much of Asia with the "Asiatic Barred Zone."
Displaced Persons Act
Allowed entry for European refugees displaced by WWII
US Quota System Ends
Replaced national origin quotas with a preference system based on family reunification and skills.
Indochina Migration & Refugee Assistance Act
Facilitated resettlement of refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos post-Vietnam War.
Refugee Act of 1980
Established a standardized system for admitting and resettling refugees in the U.S.
Simpson-Mazzoli Act Signed
Legalized undocumented immigrants while strengthening border security and employment verification.
Immigration Reform Act
Increased immigration limits and created the Diversity Visa lottery program.
1994 passage of section 245(i)
Allowed certain undocumented immigrants to adjust status if they paid a penalty fee.
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act
Tightened immigration enforcement, increased penalties, and expedited deportation processes.
Renewal of Section 245 (i)
Temporarily extended the adjustment-of-status provision for
undocumented immigrants.
Renewal of Section 245 (i) DREAM Act
Proposed but failed to provide legal status for undocumented youth brought to the U.S. as children.
9/11 and Reshaping of U.S. National Security Bureaucracy
Established the Department of Homeland Security and restructured immigration enforcement agencies.
2007 Immigration Reform Bill
Comprehensive reform proposal that included a path to citizenship, enhanced border security, and a guest worker program but ultimately failed in Congress.
2012 DACA Executive Order
Provided temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.
DAPA Executive Order Challenged
Proposed protections for parents of U.S. citizens but was blocked by court rulings.
2017 Executive Order (Muslim Ban)
Restricted entry from several predominantly Muslim countries, sparking widespread legal and public opposition.
2018 Supreme Court Ruling on Public Charge
Expanded the definition to deny green cards based on likely use of public benefits.
2024 Bipartisan Immigration Bill Fails in Congress
A major attempt at comprehensive immigration reform failed to gain sufficient support.
