Answer:
The US immigration system has undergone significant changes throughout its history. Here are some of the key changes:
1. Colonial Era: During the colonial era, immigration was largely unrestricted, and anyone who could pay their way was allowed to enter. However, certain colonies, such as Massachusetts, enacted laws to limit the entry of people who were not Puritan.
2. 19th Century: In the 19th century, the US began to regulate immigration more closely. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the US. In 1891, the federal government established the Bureau of Immigration to regulate immigration.
3. Early 20th Century: In 1917, the US passed the Immigration Act, which imposed literacy tests and other requirements on immigrants. The law also barred immigration from many Asian countries.
4. Mid-20th Century: In the 1940s, the US began to allow more immigrants to enter the country, particularly to fill labor shortages during World War II. In 1952, the Immigration and Nationality Act was passed, which created a quota system for immigration based on nationality. This system was criticized for discriminating against non-white immigrants.
5. Late 20th Century: In 1965, the Immigration and Nationality Act was amended, abolishing the quota system and replacing it with a system that prioritized family reunification and skilled workers. The law also eliminated racial and national origin quotas. However, the law also imposed new restrictions on immigration, such as limits on the number of immigrants from any one country.
6. 21st Century: In the 21st century, there have been many debates and changes to the US immigration system. In 2012, President Obama introduced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided temporary relief from deportation to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the US as children. In 2017, President Trump introduced a travel ban on several predominantly Muslim countries, which was later revised and upheld by the Supreme Court. In 2021, President Biden reversed many of Trump's immigration policies, such as ending the travel ban and reinstating DACA.
Step-by-step explanation: