People could come to the United States as they pleased until the late 19th century. There weren’t any real laws saying who could enter. However, not everyone was always welcomed warmly, especially the Irish, Catholics, Chinese, and Italians. When the U.S. Constitution was fully adopted, many immigrants arrived.
But, things started to change with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This was the first big federal immigration law. It basically said no more immigration from China. After this act, the idea of “illegal” immigration started forming. If you were Chinese, people often assumed you came in the wrong way.
Key Takeaways
- Immigration to the United States was largely unrestricted until the late 19th century.
- The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first federal law governing who could enter the country.
- Anti-immigrant sentiment was prevalent, particularly towards certain ethnic and religious groups.
- The concept of “illegal” immigration emerged as a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
- Subsequent laws, such as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act of 1917, further restricted immigration from Asia and other regions.
The Origins of Illegal Immigration in America
The history of immigration in the United States is full of twists and turns. Back in the early American days, there weren’t any federal immigration laws. This meant people could come and go as they pleased. However, not everyone was welcomed. There was a lot of anti-immigrant feelings, especially toward certain groups.
The Lack of Immigration Laws in Early America
In the late 19th century, things started to change. The first federal immigration laws were put into place. One of the first was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. This act stopped most Chinese immigrants from coming to the U.S. It marked the start of thinking about “illegal” immigration. The idea was if you were Chinese, you somehow came into the U.S. the wrong way. With more and more laws coming, the term “illegal immigration” became common.
Fast forward to 2021, and the U.S. had about 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants. This was a little more than in 2019 but close to 2017 numbers. The 2021 count was lower than the peak in 2007. It has also been lower than in the years between 2005 and 2015. From this, we see that the unauthorized immigrant population has been dropping in recent years.
Early immigration patterns in America set the stage for our current immigration laws. They drive the conversation around illegal immigration today. We can’t understand the topic fully without looking at our immigration history.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 changed US immigration rules significantly. It was the first major law to limit who could come to the United States. This act stopped most Chinese people from coming here. Only a few, like students and diplomats, were allowed to enter. The reason behind this law was fear and blame. Many white Americans thought Chinese immigrants were the reason for their low pay and job problems. This wasn’t true since Chinese immigrants were very few compared to the US population.
The Chinese Exclusion Act introduced the idea of “illegal” immigration for Chinese people. The thought was, if you were Chinese, you must’ve come here without permission. This act kept getting extended. First, until 1892 with the Geary Act, then endlessly in 1902. The ban was finally lifted in 1943 with the Magnuson Act, but restrictions remained. After this, only 105 Chinese people were allowed to enter the US each year.
The Chinese Exclusion Act hurt the Chinese-Americans a lot. It caused their community to shrink in the US. By 1900, their numbers went down from 105,465 in 1880 to only 89,863. Yet, they didn’t give up. They used the American court system to fight unfair laws, winning many battles. They showed they belonged and deserved to be treated fairly.
The Immigration Act of 1924 and Quota Systems
The Immigration Act of 1924 was a huge change in American immigration rules. It put a limit, or quota, on how many people could come based on where they were from. Immigrants from northern and western Europe were favored against those from the south and east of Europe. The idea was that America was getting too many different kinds of people, especially those who weren’t Anglo-Saxon.
This act made a rule where only 2% of each nationality from a 1890 count could come each year. This meant fewer people from some places could come, but more from others could. Overall, only 150,000 people were allowed to immigrate each year.
The goal of the Immigration Act of 1924 was to keep America mainly the same ethnic group. But, it got a lot of criticism for being unfair. The quota system favored certain nationalities over others. This was all because some were seen as more wanted than others.
The Immigration Act of 1924 lasted for about 30 years. During that time, not many people from certain places were allowed to come. This rule changed in 1965 with a new law. The 1924 Act is seen as a dark time in America’s past when it comes to who could come and why.
The Impact of the Bracero Program’s End
The Bracero program let Mexican workers go to the United States for jobs. This happened mainly on farms from 1942 to 1964. Though some didn’t like how it was run and the Catholic Church spoke out against it, it was a way for workers to come over legally. Then suddenly, in 1964, the U.S. stopped the program without setting up a new way for people to come work.
The Bracero Program and Its Termination
Ending the Bracero program really changed things in the U.S. When it stopped, there was no legal way for seasonal work to get done. So, many who used to join the program started coming over without permission. This made illegal entry into the U.S. go way up. For example, the number of people caught trying to cross went from 86,597 in 1964 to 875,915 in 1976.
The change also affected farming a lot. The program used to bring lots of Mexican workers to help on U.S. farms. For example, their numbers more than doubled from 1953 to the late 50s. But, when the program ended, illegal workers from Mexico became much more common. The number caught farming went up 600% from 1965 to 1970, showing a big jump in illegal workers trying to help with the farm work.
Closing the Bracero program without a new plan shows the need to think through immigration changes. It taught the U.S. that managing who works where is a big, complex issue.
The Western Hemisphere Cap and Family Reunification
Before 1965, immigration from Western Hemisphere countries, like Mexico, had no limits. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act changed this by putting a cap of 120,000 visas for the region. In 1976, a limit of 20,000 visas per country was set. This caused long waits for visas, pushing some to try entering the U.S. illegally.
The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act
The 1965 immigration act 1965 got rid of the unfair quota system from the 1924 Immigration Act. Yet, there were worries about how it affected family reunification. It placed a limit of 120,000 visas from the Western Hemisphere every year. Plus, it added a worldwide visa cap, which went down to 270,000 by 1980.
This change made more people from Latin America enter the U.S. illegally. They wanted to be with family or find jobs. By the 1990s, 44% of all U.S. immigrants were from Latin America. This was more than those from Asia or Europe.
The 1965 act also started giving visa preference to family reunification. This led to a more varied immigrant group. Now, more people from Asia and Latin America came to the U.S.
illegal immigration Becomes a Political Issue
In the early 1970s, illegal immigration became a big issue in the U.S. This started when the Bracero program ended. This program helped with seasonal work legally. Then, a limit on Western Hemisphere immigrants was set. This caused more people to try to come in unlawfully.
By February 2024, a Gallup survey found that 28% of Americans saw immigration as a big issue, from 20% the month before. This made politicians really look at illegal immigration politics and immigration reform. Now, how they deal with immigration is key for voters, with President Biden’s immigration job rating dropping to 28%.
The immigration debates have split into strong camps. Republicans and Democrats see immigration policy and us politics very differently. While 86% of Republicans believe reducing illegal immigration is crucial, only 34% of Democrats think so. This difference makes agreeing on immigration reform hard.
Even with these divides, views on immigration have grown more complex. Less Americans, just 35%, now want lower immigration. More Americans think immigrants help the economy. This began in 1993 when Gallup first checked. This change could help make policies on illegal immigration problems fairer.
The Church’s Response and Advocacy
In the 1970s, illegal immigration became a key issue, especially in politics. The Catholic Church, via the United States Catholic Conference (USCC), worked hard to tackle these issues. Msgr. George Higgins, speaking for the USCC before Congress, pointed out the big issues.
He and the USCC talked about how just making stricter rules wouldn’t fully solve the problem. They said the real causes were poor economic conditions in Latin America. They also blamed the local governments for helping the influx of illegal workers.
The USCC wasn’t for just punishing illegal immigrants already in America. They suggested a “across-the-board amnesty” to help these people come out of the shadows. Their goal was to avoid causing chaos and splitting up families with strict backward-looking rules.
This idea came from the Church’s belief in helping all people, respecting human dignity, and looking out for everyone’s well-being over just rules. They wanted to create a fair system that supports the ideals they stood for.
The United States Catholic Conference’s Testimony
The Catholic Church’s stance on immigration advocacy was thoughtful and well-informed. The USCC thought immigration reform was necessary because of the growing number of catholic church immigration. They wanted a solution that kept people’s rights and dignity intact, no matter their immigration status.
In front of Congress, the USCC outlined their views. They explained that just enforcing rules wouldn’t be a complete fix. The Church believed in a more all-encompassing plan that looked at the deeper reasons for illegal immigration. This plan would also help provide a legal pathway for those currently living in the U.S.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) started in 1986 to deal with illegal immigration. It brought employer sanctions, more border security, and a chance for some undocumented people to become legal. This was after many years of discussions. The Catholic Church had also been asking for a better approach, one that looked at the reasons behind the issue.
This law aimed to cut down on illegal immigration by making it tough to hire unauthorized people. It made employers check if their workers were allowed to work in the U.S. Those who didn’t follow this rule could get warnings, fines, or face criminal charges. The General Accounting Office also started checking if legal workers were treated fairly.
Around 3 million people, mostly Hispanic, got a legal status thanks to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. There was a year, from May 1987 to May 1988, where those eligible could apply. The Act also meant more money and people to guard the borders.
The goal of the Immigration Reform and Control Act was to stop illegal immigration by controlling who gets to work here. Although it didn’t fix everything, it did move the conversation forward. It played a big role in how we talk about immigration policy in the United States.
The Continuing Debate over illegal immigration
The issue of illegal immigration sparks ongoing debate in the United States. Discussions around this topic cover enforcement, border security, and legal migration. Despite the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, illegal immigration still stirs controversy. With new legislative proposals and executive actions, the government aims to tackle the issue. This ongoing debate highlights the importance of a thorough and compassionate approach to immigration policy.
Various factors influence the politics of illegal immigration. Economic worries, national security, and changing demographics play key parts. Those for stricter enforcement worry about American jobs and safety. On the other hand, reformation advocates highlight immigrant community contributions. They push for a more caring and broad approach to immigration. This debate has resulted in different policy ideas, from boosting border security to creating paths to citizenship.
Finding a solution to illegal immigration is a tough task. But, efforts to find common ground are underway. The Biden administration, for example, wants to address concerns from both sides. This includes making borders more secure. However, they also aim to open up legal migration and help some undocumented people. As talks continue, it’s vital for policymakers and those involved to have positive discussions. They should consider all sides carefully. The goal is to develop a fair and efficient policy for the United States.
Conclusion
Illegal immigration in the U.S. has a long history. This problem started because there weren’t any federal immigration laws early on. Now, there are strict policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1924.
Many things have fueled illegal migration. The Bracero program ending and limiting Western Hemisphere immigration are examples. The Catholic Church and others have pushed for better, root-cause focused solutions.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made a big impact. Yet, illegal immigration is still a big issue. With about 17 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., and with more people coming in, the problem is complex.
As we talk more about illegal immigration, we should learn from the past. Using the latest info and research is also key. Finding solutions that meet everyone’s needs is the way to go. This includes the country, immigrants, and local communities. Only then, we can tackle this issue in a way that’s fair and works.