Final answer:
Initially, being in the U.S. illegally was not specified as a felony, but later efforts were made to criminalize undocumented status.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the first half of the 20th century, being in the United States illegally was not legislatively defined as a specific crime across the nation as a whole. However, significant changes occurred in the latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st century regarding immigration laws and the status of undocumented immigrants. In 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act was passed, requiring employers to verify the legal status of their employees, and imposing fines on those who knowingly hired undocumented aliens. Efforts to further criminalize illegal immigration and those aiding undocumented immigrants, including the proposed felony charge for being in the country illegally, were introduced in the 2000s but met with considerable protest and challenges.
In 2005, there was a failed attempt to make undocumented status a federal felony. Many state legislatures, including Arizona and Alabama, attempted to pass strict laws regarding undocumented immigration, including making it a state crime and imposing penalties for employing undocumented workers. These initiatives often led to widespread protests and court challenges, with the U.S. Supreme Court eventually striking down several stringent provisions but upholding others, such as the ability of law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of individuals stopped for other reasons.