History of Immigration
Immigration policies, laws, and attitudes toward immigrants have evolved in the U.S. Our system has continued to adapt over time, responding to changing global dynamics, economic needs, and political pressure. By learning from our immigrant past, we can apply the lessons learned to help shape how we treat immigration and immigrants in the future.
The McCarran-Walter Act: A Contradictory Legacy on Race, Quotas, and Ideology
The McCarran-Walter Act of 1952 ended the blanket exclusion of immigrants based on race and created the foundation for current immigration law, but imposed a racialized immigration quota system and new ideological grounds for exclusion. Read More
“Eating Bitterness”: The Impact of Asian-Pacific Migration on U.S. Immigration Policy
Asian-Pacific migration to the United States has had a positive impact on immigration and refugee law by contributing to the demise of exclusion acts against non-whites and of the nationality-based quota system. ( Read More
The Lessons of 9/11: A Failure of Intelligence, Not Immigration Law
In the hours following the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government took the extraordinary step of sealing U.S. borders to traffic and trade by grounding all aircraft flying into or out of the country and imposing a lock-down on the networks of transportation and commerce that are the lifeblood of our economy and society. Given the uncertainty over what might happen next, these emergency procedures were a necessary and appropriate short-term response to the attacks. Read More
Have We Learned the Lessons of History? World War II Japanese Internment and Today’s Secret Detentions
In the aftermath of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, our leaders have begun exercising extraordinary powers to ensure our collective safety, sacrificing the personal liberties of some, particularly immigrants, in the process. Read More
The Passage From India: A Brief History of Indian Immigration to the U.S.
From humble beginnings, Indian immigrants have overcome great odds to become one of the most influential communities in American society today. Read More
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