Saving the Oceans, One Step at a Time

1789 and 1799, the United States had relatively open borders, reflecting a young nation eager to expand its population and workforce. Immigration policies were minimal, as the federal government had not yet established strict controls or requirements for entry. However, in 1790, the Naturalization Act was introduced, setting the first guidelines for U.S. citizenship. It allowed "free white persons" of "good character" who had resided in the country for two years to apply for citizenship, which was granted only to white immigrants. This law marked the beginning of formal federal immigration regulation, though states retained significant control over immigration matters during this time. Toward the end of the decade, with rising concerns about foreign influence, the 1798 Alien and Sedition Acts were enacted, giving the president authority to deport non-citizens considered dangerous and making it harder for immigrants to become citizens, raising residency requirements to 14 years. These policies reflected a shift toward more restrictive immigration attitudes amid fears of political instability.

1800 and 1850, U.S. immigration policies were still relatively open, largely influenced by the need for labor and westward expansion. The federal government maintained minimal restrictions, with states often setting their own guidelines for entry and settlement. The Naturalization Act of 1802 revised earlier laws by reducing the residency requirement for citizenship from 14 to five years, making citizenship more accessible for immigrants. Throughout this period, waves of Irish and German immigrants arrived, driven by economic hardship and political upheaval in Europe. By the 1830s and 1840s, nativist sentiment began to rise in response to the growing immigrant population, particularly Catholics, which led to calls for tighter regulations. However, no major federal restrictions on immigration were enacted during this time, keeping the U.S. borders open. Instead, nativist groups formed, and some states implemented small-scale measures aimed at controlling immigration and managing immigrant populations, particularly in cities.

1850 to 1900, U.S. immigration policy shifted from open borders to gradually increased restrictions, driven by the huge influx of immigrants from Europe and Asia. The 1850s saw steady European immigration, but hostility grew toward Asian immigrants, particularly Chinese laborers in the West. This culminated in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the first major federal law to restrict immigration based on nationality, banning Chinese laborers from entry. The Immigration Act of 1891 established federal oversight of immigration and barred certain groups deemed undesirable, including those with criminal records or mental illness. Meanwhile, Ellis Island opened in 1892 as the main processing center, reflecting the growing federal role in immigration. These policies laid the foundation for a more regulated immigration system, marking the end of a largely unrestricted period and setting a precedent for more exclusionary laws in the early 20th century.

1900 and 1950, U.S. immigration laws became increasingly restrictive as the government sought to limit the flow of newcomers and control the demographics of immigrant populations. The 1907 Immigration Act established the Dillingham Commission, which eventually recommended limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. This led to the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924, which implemented national origin quotas, heavily favoring Western and Northern European immigrants and nearly excluding Asians. During the Great Depression, immigration dropped sharply, and the government even encouraged repatriation of Mexicans, regardless of citizenship, to open jobs for Americans. In the 1940s, WWII created exceptions, such as the 1943 repeal of Chinese exclusion laws and the Bracero Program, which temporarily brought Mexican laborers to fill agricultural jobs. However, for most of this period, immigration policy reflected a preference for restricting entry and preserving the country’s ethnic makeup as defined by earlier quotas.

1950 and 2000, U.S. immigration policy transformed from restrictive quotas to more inclusive and diverse regulations, shaped by civil rights movements and global events. The 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act (McCarran-Walter Act) retained quotas based on national origins but ended racial exclusions, opening pathways for Asian immigration. A major shift came with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which abolished the quota system, instead favoring family reunification and skilled labor, and significantly diversifying U.S. immigration sources. In the 1980s, the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 offered amnesty to millions of undocumented immigrants and imposed penalties on employers hiring undocumented workers. The 1990 Immigration Act increased overall immigration caps and created the Diversity Visa Lottery to encourage immigration from underrepresented countries. During this period, U.S. immigration policy evolved to accommodate family reunification, humanitarian needs, and workforce demands while addressing illegal immigration through enforcement and selective legalization measures.

2000 to 2024, U.S. immigration policy was marked by attempts to balance border security, undocumented immigration, and pathways for legal immigration amidst evolving political and social pressures. After the 9/11 attacks, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and increased immigration enforcement, prioritizing national security. Efforts to reform immigration stalled, but programs like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012 provided temporary relief for some undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. In 2017, policies shifted toward stricter enforcement, including travel bans on certain countries and increased detentions and deportations, sparking significant public debate. Under the Biden administration, there was a shift toward more lenient policies, ending certain travel bans, revisiting asylum processing, and attempting to reform immigration pathways. Throughout this period, Congress has struggled to pass comprehensive immigration reform, leaving many policies in a state of flux and addressing issues primarily through executive actions and agency regulations.