Chapter 23 Section 3 Immigration The Immigration Act

Chapter 23 Section 3 Immigration

The Immigration Act of 1965 • The Immigration Act of 1965 got rid of the national origins quota system and gave preference to people with close relatives who were U. S. citizens. • The Immigration Act of 1965 also introduced limits on immigration from the Western Hemisphere.

Migration Chains… • This caused migration chains. • As immigrants became citizens, they sent for relatives in their home countries. • Immigration from non-European countries grew. • The new law was presented as an extension of America’s growing commitment to equal rights for non-European people.

Refugees • Beginning in 1948 refugees, from countries ravaged by World War II were admitted to the United States. • Refugees are people who flee their country due to persecution based on race, religion, or political beliefs.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 • Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 to stop illegal immigration. • It punished employers who hired illegal immigrants. It made border controls stronger. • The law also gave amnesty —or a pardon—to people who had entered the country illegally before January 1, 1982.

But illegal immigration was still a problem. • In 1996 Congress passed a law that required families sponsoring an immigrant to have an income above the poverty level. • It also strengthened border control and toughened laws against smuggling people into the country.

The USA Patriot Act • The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, also led to changes in immigration laws. • The USA Patriot Act made border control and customs inspections even stronger. • Immigration now came under the control of the newly created Department of Homeland Security.

States with more immigrants • More immigrants moved to some states than other states. • In 1990 California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida had the most immigrants.

Where are they coming from… • More than half of immigrants who arrived in the 1990 s came from Latin America. • Approximately onefourth came from Asia. • Only about 10 percent of the immigrants who arrived in the 1990 s came from Europe.

Cuban Refugees • Many immigrants arriving in the United States were refugees. • So many Cubans immigrants settled in the Miami area that only Havana, Cuba is home to more Cubans. • Many of the Cubans who came into the United States arrived after the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

Refugees from Vietnam • The Vietnam War also created refugees. • Many people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia settled in the United States after 1974.

Undocumented Aliens • The amnesty program of 1986 intended to eliminate the problem of undocumented aliens, but the number of immigrants tripled over the next 20 years. • The largest number of these came from Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. • Americans were divided over how to handle unauthorized immigrants.

What should we do with them… • What do we do with undocumented aliens: – Some people thought they should be allowed to obtain driver’s licenses, send their children to public school, and receive government services. – Other people thought they should be deported. – Still others thought they should be able to get temporary visas. • After that, they could earn permanent residence if they learned English, paid back taxes, and had no criminal record.

2006 Immigration Reform • In 2006 President George W. Bush focused on immigration reform. • Congress was split on how to solve the problem of undocumented aliens. Most senators wanted tougher enforcement of immigration laws. • They also wanted some kind of earned citizenship for undocumented immigrants, or aliens.

The U. S. House of Representatives • The House wanted to build a wall along the U. S. -Mexican border. • Congress debated a bill that would allow criminal prosecution of unauthorized aliens. – Latinos throughout the country protested this.

Other Options • Some wanted to start a guest-worker program and find a way to legalize unauthorized immigrants that were already in the country. • Many undocumented immigrants had lived in the United States for years.

Separating Family Members • Many had raised families. • Their children born in the United States were citizens and could not be deported. • Deporting undocumented aliens would mean separating family members.