Evolution of U.S. Immigration Policy

The Emergence of Nativism in the United States

During the latter part of the 19th century, the United States experienced a significant shift in its attitude towards immigrants, marked by the rise of nativism. Nativism is the political policy of promoting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants. This sentiment grew in response to the large influx of immigrants, particularly those from regions outside of Northern and Western Europe. While early immigrants from England, Germany, and Ireland were initially more accepted, anti-immigrant feelings began to surface, especially against the Irish and Germans, who were culturally and religiously distinct from the predominantly Protestant American-born population. The nativist movement found political expression in the American Party, commonly known as the Know Nothing Party, which saw brief success in the 1850s but declined before the Civil War. Following the war, individual states attempted to regulate immigration until the Supreme Court affirmed it as a federal responsibility.

The Advent of Federal Immigration Restrictions

The United States federal government began to enact significant immigration restrictions in the 1880s. The Immigration Act of 1882 introduced a head tax on immigrants and barred the entry of certain categories of individuals, including convicts, the mentally ill, and those who might become a public charge. While this legislation primarily affected European immigrants, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 specifically targeted Chinese laborers, prohibiting their immigration and reflecting the racial prejudices of the period. This exclusion was maintained until its repeal in 1943. To administer these new laws, the Immigration Act of 1891 established the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration, which later evolved into the Bureau of Immigration. This agency was responsible for the inspection and admission of immigrants at designated entry points, including the newly opened Ellis Island in New York Harbor.

Changing Immigrant Demographics and the Dillingham Commission

The demographic profile of immigrants to the United States shifted at the turn of the 20th century, with a growing number of arrivals from Eastern and Southern Europe. These "new immigrants" were often culturally and religiously different from the established Protestant, native-born population, which exacerbated nativist anxieties. The Progressive Era, despite its reformist impulses, was not immune to these sentiments and often supported restrictive immigration policies. In 1911, Congress established the Dillingham Commission to study the effects of immigration. The commission's report, which was prejudiced against immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, concluded that they were struggling to assimilate and were negatively impacting American society. These findings influenced future immigration policy decisions.

The National Origins Quota System and Its Consequences

In the wake of the Dillingham Commission's report, the United States Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917, which introduced literacy tests and barred immigration from the "Asiatic Barred Zone," excluding most Asian countries except the Philippines, then an American colony. The post-World War I era saw a push to maintain low immigration levels, culminating in the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which established the national origins quota system. This system limited annual immigration to 3% of the population of each nationality based on the 1910 census. The Immigration Act of 1924 further tightened these quotas to 2% based on the 1890 census, disproportionately favoring immigrants from Northern and Western Europe over those from Southern and Eastern Europe. During this period, immigration from Western Hemisphere countries, including Canada and Latin America, was not restricted.

The Impact of Restrictive Immigration Policies

The restrictive immigration policies of the early 20th century led to a marked decrease in legal immigration, which, in turn, contributed to an increase in unauthorized immigration. In response, the United States government established the U.S. Border Patrol in 1924 and intensified deportation efforts. These policies institutionalized xenophobia and racism, as they severely limited European immigration, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, and outright banned Asian immigration. Immigrants faced widespread discrimination, were often forced into lower-wage jobs, and lived in substandard conditions. The legislation of this era reflected a clear preference for immigrants from certain European regions, shaping the nation's demographic and cultural landscape.

Immigration Reform and the Legacy of Exclusionary Policies

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy by abolishing the national origins quota system. This act established a new preference system that prioritized immigrants with family ties in the U.S. and those with specialized skills, as well as a worldwide limit on immigration. While the worldwide limit has been modified over time, it remains a feature of U.S. immigration policy. The focus of immigration policy has since shifted, with increased attention on immigration from Latin American countries. The history of U.S. immigration policy is characterized by periods of exclusion and preference, which have profoundly influenced the nation's demographic and cultural development.