Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal in America

Undocumented immigration is a complex and controversial issue that has been at the forefront of American politics for decades. But how did immigration become illegal in the first place?

To understand the answer, we need to go back to the late 19th century. In the 1880s and 1890s, the United States experienced a wave of immigration from Europe, especially from southern and eastern Europe. These immigrants were often poor and working-class, and they faced discrimination from the established Anglo-Saxon majority.

Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal

by Aviva Chomsky

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2591 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	257 pages

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In response to this influx of immigrants, Congress passed a series of laws that restricted immigration. The first of these laws, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States. This was followed by the Immigration Act of 1891, which imposed literacy tests and other requirements on immigrants.

These laws were designed to reduce the number of immigrants coming to the United States, and they were largely successful in ng so. However, they also created a class of undocumented immigrants people who had entered the United States illegally or who had overstayed their visas.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States grew steadily over the course of the 20th century. In the 1920s, there were an estimated 1 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. By the 1950s, that number had grown to 2 million. And by the 1980s, there were an estimated 3 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was a major turning point in the history of undocumented immigration in the United States. This law granted amnesty to undocumented immigrants who had been living in the United States since 1982. It also imposed new penalties on employers who hired undocumented immigrants.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was a major success in reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States. However, it also created a new class of undocumented immigrants people who had entered the United States since 1982.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has continued to grow in recent years. In 2017, there were an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

The issue of undocumented immigration is a complex one with no easy solutions. There are many different perspectives on the issue, and there is no consensus on how to resolve it.

Undocumented immigrants are often portrayed as criminals, but the vast majority of them are simply people who are trying to improve their lives and provide for their families. They are often willing to work hard and contribute to society, but they are often denied the opportunity to do so because of their legal status.

The issue of undocumented immigration is a humanitarian issue, and it should be treated as such. We need to find a way to bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and allow them to participate fully in American society.

The Historical Background of Immigration Law

The United States has a long and complex history of immigration law. The first immigration law was passed in 1790, and it required all immigrants to be free white persons. This law was followed by a series of other laws that restricted immigration from certain countries and groups of people.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the United States experienced a wave of immigration from Europe. This immigration was largely driven by economic factors, as people from all over Europe were seeking a better life in America.

In response to this influx of immigrants, Congress passed a series of laws that restricted immigration. The first of these laws was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred Chinese laborers from entering the United States. This was followed by the Immigration Act of 1891, which imposed literacy tests and other requirements on immigrants.

These laws were designed to reduce the number of immigrants coming to the United States, and they were largely successful in ng so. However, they also created a class of undocumented immigrants people who had entered the United States illegally or who had overstayed their visas.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States grew steadily over the course of the 20th century. In the 1920s, there were an estimated 1 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. By the 1950s, that number had grown to 2 million. And by the 1980s, there were an estimated 3 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was a major turning point in the history of undocumented immigration in the United States. This law granted amnesty to undocumented immigrants who had been living in the United States since 1982. It also imposed new penalties on employers who hired undocumented immigrants.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was a major success in reducing the number of undocumented immigrants in the United States. However, it also created a new class of undocumented immigrants people who had entered the United States since 1982.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the United States has continued to grow in recent years. In 2017, there were an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States.

The issue of undocumented immigration is a complex one with no easy solutions. There are many different perspectives on the issue, and there is no consensus on how to resolve it.

The Human Cost of Undocumented Immigration

The human cost of undocumented immigration is often overlooked in the debate over immigration policy. Undocumented immigrants are often vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, and they live in constant fear of deportation.

Undocumented immigrants are often paid less than minimum wage and they are often forced to work in dangerous conditions. They are also often denied access to basic services, such as healthcare and education.

The fear of deportation can have a devastating impact on the lives of undocumented immigrants. It can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. It can also make it difficult for undocumented immigrants to maintain relationships with their families and communities.

The human cost of undocumented immigration is a serious problem that must be addressed. We need to find a way to bring undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and allow them to participate fully in American society.

Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal

by Aviva Chomsky

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2591 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	257 pages

FREE