From a legal vantage point, how has the United States historically attempted to restrict immigration?
What will be an ideal response?
Answers should begin by pointing out that immigration has a long and controversial history in the United States. The degree to which communities are directly impacted varies widely and, in recent years, it has come to be defined by two opposing political camps. Amnesty, the path to citizenship, and repatriation are all components of this incredibly complex issue. Regarding specific historical milestones, responses should note that during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries large numbers of Chinese and eastern and southern Europeans migrated to the United States. In response, during the 1920s legislation created a quota system that favored the “more desirable immigrants.” That quota system was abolished in 1965 with the Immigration and Nationality Act, which doubled the number of people allowed to enter the country as well as set limits on immigration within the Western Hemisphere and made it easier for families to reunite. An upsurge in the number of undocumented immigrants during the 1970s and 1980s resulted in the Reform and Control Act that granted amnesty to a large number of immigrants. More immigrants were admitted with the Immigration Act of 1990. This decade also saw the power of the Immigration and Naturalization Service increased under President Bill Clinton. Finally, answers should address President Barack Obama’s attempt to pass the DREAM Act and the subsequent enactment via executive action of DACA.
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