Ultimate Guide: List of Immigration Laws in the US Explained

U.S. immigration laws reflect the nation’s evolving social, economic, and political priorities. Since the early stages of the naturalization restrictions and racial limitations as well as to the contemporary reforms regarding family reunification, skilled immigration, and humanitarian protection, these laws have been conditioning the inflow of immigrant population including the list of immigrants in the United States and defined American citizenship.

It is a guide that offers a brief review of the most notable ones in the list of immigration laws in the US and their effect and influence in the immigration policy and interests of the society.

1. List of Immigration Laws in the US: Historical Overview

U.S. immigration laws have evolved over time to address changing national priorities. This overview provides a comprehensive list of immigration laws in the US and highlights their impact on citizenship and immigration policy.

1.1 Early Immigration Laws (1790–1880)

Naturalization Act of 1790

Date Enacted: March 26, 1790

U.S. law Naturalization Act of 1790, a foundational entry in the list of immigration laws in the US, was the initial law in the US that clarified provisions with regards to getting citizenship through naturalization. It established who may and may not become an immigrant along with standards and procedures that the immigrants should follow to become citizens of the U.S.

Overview of major entries in the list of immigration laws in the US throughout history

Key Points:

• Limited naturalization to “free white persons.”
• Residence in United States required minimum of 2 years before applying citizenship.
• Children under 21 of U.S. citizens, even if born abroad, were considered natural-born citizens.
• Applicants had to renounce allegiance to any previous nation.

In setting the early basis of the U.S. naturalization policy, the law established the initial formal structure of citizenship and shaped the influx of compatriots including the list of immigrants in the United States as well as captured the racial restraints of the era.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Date Enacted: May 6, 1882

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 may be described as the first American federal law to limit immigration on a basis of nationality. It was aimed specifically against the Chinese laborers and barring them from entering the United States, limiting their rights within the country.

Key Points:

• Excluded all Chinese workers to immigrate into the U.S. over a period of 10 years.
• Refused Chinese immigrants their right to receive naturalization as citizens of the U.S.
• Exempted certain groups, including diplomats, merchants, students, and tourists.
• It allowed the U.S. government to deport those Chinese who were already in the country, in case they broke the law.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, one of the most notable entries in the list of United States immigration laws, set a new course in the American policy by placing racial and national (to Chinese) constraints on the Chinese immigrants in America. It established a precedent of future immigration policies and it stayed till its repeal in 1943.

1.2 Early 20th Century Reforms (1900–1940)

Immigration Act of 1924

Date Enacted: May 26, 1924

Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson-Reed Act) was one of the landmark laws in the list of United States immigration laws. It instituted hard quotas by national origin and severely transformed the U.S. policies of immigration in early 20 th century.

The law’s main objectives were:

• National origins quotas: Limited annual immigration from each country to 2% of its population in the U.S. as recorded in the 1890 census.
• Asian exclusion: Completely barred immigration from most Asian countries.
• Preference for Northern and Western Europe: The immigrants to the northern and western parts of Europe were preferred under the quota.

The Act formalized preferences on grounds of race and ethnicity, diminishing immigration of Southern/Eastern Europeans and proliferating Northern/Western Europeans. It also stood as a major part of U.S. immigration policy up until it was altered by several subsequent pieces of legislation, including the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965.

1.3 Post-World War II Laws (1945–1965)

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA)

Date Enacted: June 27, 1952

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, is a cornerstone in the list of immigration laws in the US. It formalized U.S. immigration laws then in place in one, overarching statute and defined immigrant life in the United States for the U.S. legal landscape for decades.

Important milestone in the list of immigration laws in the US: INA 1952

The major characteristics are:

• Unified legal framework: Integrated all the past immigration laws into a single law.
• Preference system: Established categories favoring skilled workers and close relatives of U.S. citizens.
• National origin quotas: Maintained limits favoring Northern and Western Europe.
• Exclusion and deportation grounds: The specified parameters according to the security, health, and political issues.

And the INA of 1952 (which can be viewed as the cornerstone on the list of immigration laws in the US) set a ground to the modern US immigration policy and formed the further reformations, such as the amendments of the INA in 1965, which removed the national origins quotas.

Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965

Date Enacted: October 3, 1965

Amendment of the INA in 1965 whereby the previous national-origins based system of preferences was substituted by a family reunification and skilled immigration based system. This is because it was this landmark reform that changed the American policy on immigration to accommodate more varieties of immigrants including Asians, Africans, and Latin Americans.

Key Changes:

• Abolished national origins quotas that had favored the European immigrants strongly.
• Established a system prioritizing family reunification and skilled immigrants.
• Allowed immigration from regions previously restricted, such as Asia and Africa.

The amendment forms an important timeline in the list of immigration laws in the US as a transition towards liberal and inclusive immigration policy.

1.4 Late 20th Century Reforms (1980–2000)

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)

Date Enacted: November 6, 1986

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, a significant addition to the list of immigration laws in the US, was developed to discuss the increasing problem of illegal immigration in the US. It included not just the legalization provisions of the immigrants, but also the heightened punishments of illegal immigration.

Key Provisions:

• Legalized undocumented immigrants who had resided in the U.S. continuously since before January 1, 1982.
• Placed sanctions on employers who employ illegal workers.
• An increase in border enforcement.

IRCA is one such significant addition on the list of immigration laws in the US with an engineered balance between enforcement and legalization and with an influence that has shaped the immigration policy of the U.S. 

Late 20th century updates in the list of immigration laws in the US

Immigration Act of 1990

Date Enacted: November 29, 1990

The Immigration Act of 1990 enhanced legal immigration pathways in the United States because it raised the immigration caps, as well as created new classes of visas. It was intended to capture the population of immigrants and fulfill the labor requirements.

Key Provisions:

• Increased total immigration limits.
• Introduced the Diversity Visa Lottery to promote immigrant diversity.
• Created additional employment-based visa categories for skilled workers.

The act is an important entry in the list of immigration laws in the US, reflecting the country’s shift toward a more inclusive and workforce-oriented immigration policy.

Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA)

Date Enacted: September 30, 1996

Another major addition to the list of immigration laws in the US was the IIRIRA which toughened up immigration enforcement in the US by increasing the grounds of deportation and creating new sanctions on illegal presence. This was due to the law that intended to discourage unlawful immigrant but simplify the methods of removal.

Key Provisions:

• Expanded grounds for deportation, including criminal and immigration violations.
• Greater cadre against those United States citizens who enter the country illegally.
• Limited judicial review for certain immigration decisions, speeding up removal processes.
• Improved border controls and interior immigration operation.

The act is a major component in the list of immigration laws in the US, marking a significant shift toward stricter enforcement and shaping immigration policy into the 21st century.

1.5 21st Century Laws and Executive Actions (2001–Present)

Homeland Security Act of 2002

Date Enacted: November 25, 2002

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 as a way to combine several federal agencies that are related to immigration, border enforcement and national security. The legislation was to increase controls and response to threats and to improve better immigration enforcement.

Key Provisions:

• Established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Merged immigration enforcement agencies, including the INS, Customs, and Border Protection functions.
• Increased national security with regard to immigrant and border control.
• Better organization between federal, state and local law- enforcers on immigration.

The act is a significant entry in the list of immigration laws in the US, reshaping the structure and administration of immigration enforcement.

21st century changes in the list of immigration laws in the US

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – 2012

Date Introduced: June 15, 2012

DACA refers to an executive action, listed among the list of immigration laws in the US, which temporarily delays deportation and allows matters of work to undocumented immigrants that have immigrated to the U.S as children. It does not give permanent legal residency or access to citizenship, but allows eligible young immigrants to be legally resident/work in the U.S. on renewable terms.

Key Provisions:

• Grants deferred action from deportation for eligible applicants.
• Offers renewable work authorization , typically valid for two years.
• Requires applicants to meet specific criteria, including age, arrival date, education, or military service requirements.

DACA is a critical change in the American immigration policy that considers humanitarian issues as well as the involvement in the workforce of the young immigrants. It is a remarkable one in the list of immigration laws in the US even though it is not a law enacted by the congressional body but an executive decision.

2. Other Notable Immigration Laws

In addition to the list of immigration laws in the US aforementioned, the U.S. has also enacted numerous other regulations, which have impacted its immigration structure.

These include:

• Immigration Act of 1903 (Anarchist Exclusion)
• Immigration Act of 1917
• Immigration Act of 1918
• Refugee Act of 1980
• REAL ID Act of 2005
• Secure Fence Act of 2006
• Various amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act

Though it is not very big as compared to the major acts, these laws still stand as significant additions to the list of immigration laws in the US, which reflect the national priorities.

Conclusion

U.S. immigration laws have evolved over centuries, shaping who can enter, reside, and become a citizen. This list of immigration laws in the US highlights key reforms, restrictions, and policies that reflect changing national priorities and the balance between security and inclusion.

Understanding this long list of U.S. immigration laws is essential, but navigating them requires expertise. For detailed guidance on U.S. immigration processes and visa options, you can visit UOM Global, a trusted resource for individuals exploring opportunities to live, work, or study in the United States.