March 18th, 2017

​Some things about immigration restrictions (edited on 3/20):
Immigration quotas, restrictions, bans, with communist, terrorist-sponsor, and conflict- zone states are a historical or have become political constants in the U.S, including under the Obama administration.  In the last part of the 20th Century, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, among other countries, have been designated as nations or states deemed by definition and placed under restrictions, including immigration, trade, etc.  To establish an immigration ban on the basis of religion is a violation of the First Amendment,* though not specifically for other reasons, dependent on legal precedent, interactive histories, treaties…
Religion as unwritten aspects of policy affecting Catholics, Jews, Eastern Orthodox Christians, etc., were present in past immigration restrictions.
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was initially aimed primarily at Chinese workers and wasn’t lifted until World War II.  The Immigration Act and Asian Exclusion Act of 1924 targeted southern and eastern Europeans, Africans, Arabs, Asians, etc.  Later, a codicil of immigration law was enacted to exclude gay immigrants, and under the Reagan administration, HIV infected persons, many from African nations. 
The 1790 Naturalization Act “excluded non-white people."  "Naturalization requirements included two years of residence in the country and 'good moral character,' and an applicant must be a 'free white person.'"  - Pew Research Center 
“The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952” established that for “the first time in American history, racial distinctions were omitted from the U.S. (immigration) Code.”          - Wikipedia
"Just prior to passage of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, 'residents of only three countries—Ireland, Germany and the United Kingdom—were entitled to nearly 70% of the quota visas available to enter the U.S.'  (U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1965).  Today Europeans account for 10%  of new arrivals."  - Pew Research Center
​“The Dream Act is a bill initially introduced in 2001, incorporated in the various comprehensive reform bills, and then separately reintroduced in 2009 and 2010.  The bill would provide legal residency and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who graduate from U.S. high schools and attend college or join the military.  - Wikipedia
“The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), the body of law governing current immigration policy, provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with certain exceptions for close family members.”  - American Immigration Council   
Sources: Wikipedia, Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, WGN, Offices of the Historian, American Immigration Council, Pew Research Center, etc.
*Please see Carbuncle Moon post: 7/31/16.

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“An 1882 immigration law banned entry of lunatics into the United States.  This, er, law has impacted the U.S. Congress, uh, and many other officials.  The lunatics have been asked to return to their nations of national origin, including but not limited to England, France, Pakistan, Norway, Laos, Namibia, Ireland …”  (edited 3/5/20)


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