The USA is a country which has been largely shaped out by the imports by immigrants from all places and in all ages. However with increasing hostility world over, the present authorities in the US are very much concerned about their national security and in an effort to avoid future another 9/11 or similar events in future, the US have increasingly tightened its immigration rules. Although there have been random transitions in the US immigration policies traditionally, off late developments are towards a more stringent immigration law and rule.
Here goes a brief overview of the rules of immigration in the USA:
The Naturalization Act (1790) established rules for naturalized citizenship [as per Article 1(8) of the Constitution of the USA].
The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) was the first and the sole race-based immigration act in the USA.
The Immigration Act (1924) restricted the ethnic distribution in response to rising immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, and Asia.
The National Origins Formula of (1929) capped the total annual immigration to the USA at 150,000. Asians were excluded but foreign residents in the Americas were not restricted.
The Immigration and Nationality Act (or McCarran-Walter Act) of 1952 liberalized immigration from Asia, but more empowered the government to deport illegal immigrants (mainly suspects as Communist sympathizers).
The Immigration Act (1965) abolished quotas based on national origin, while those having US relatives were given preference. Mexican immigration was restricted for the first time.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986) pardoned those illegal immigrants who had been living in the United States before 1982 but hired another illegal immigrant.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (1996) implemented drastic changes to asylum law, criminal-based immigration, and many forms of immigration relief.
The Real ID Act (2005) had restricted political asylum more, curtailed habeas corpus relief for immigrants, increased immigration enforcement mechanisms, changed judicial review, and imposed federal restrictions on the issuance of state driver's licenses to immigrants and others.
The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (2005) called for fencing the US-Mexican border to stem massive influx of illegal immigrants and asked the federal government to take custody of illegal aliens detained by local authorities. This law however led to massive countrywide protests in the US.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (CIRA) of 2006 deals with immigration reform. It proposes to increase security along the US-Mexico border, allows long-time illegal immigrants to gain citizenship with some restrictions, and increases the number of guest workers in the US beside those already present through a new "blue card" visa program.
In December 2005 , the US House of Representatives passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth (South Dakota) and Congressman Bob Goodlatte (Virginia) to add amendment to the border enforcement bill H.R. 4437 ( The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act ) to abolish the immigration lottery system.
