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{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Month and date (if available) !! Event type !! Affected agencies (past, and present equivalents) !! Visa letter for nonimmigrant visa !! Details
|-
| 1790 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Naturalization Act of 1790{{w|Naturalization Act of 1790]] }} is passed, specifying the rules for granting citizenship in the United States. Citizenship is limited to free white persons of good character.
|-
| 1798 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Alien and Sedition Acts}} (a total of four bills) are passed by the {{w|5th United States Congress}} (that is Federalist-dominated) and signed into law by President {{w|John Adams}}.
|-
| 1819 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Steerage Act of 1819}}, also known as the Manifest of Immigrants Act, is passed. The Act regulates the conditions of travel on ships landing in the United States, and imposes a requirement that ships submit a manifest of all immigrants aboard.
|-
| 1855 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Carriage of Passengers Act of 1855}} is passed, replacing the Steerage Act of 1819.
|-
| 1868 || July 28 || Treaty or trade agreement || || || Terms for what would later be known as the [[wikipedia:Burlingame Treaty|Burlingame Treaty]] between the United States and China are finalized. The treaty would be ratified by China in 1869. The Treaty grants most-favored-nation status to China, and allows free movement of people between the countries, but withholding the privilege of naturalization.
|-
| 1870 || July 14 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Naturalization Act of 1870{{w|Naturalization Act of 1870]] }} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Ulysses S. Grant{{w|Ulysses S. Grant]] }} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:41st United States Congress|41st United States Congress]]. The Act extends the naturalization process to ''persons of African nativity and to persons of African descent'' (going beyond the Naturalization Act of 1790 that was limited to free white persons) while still excluding the Chinese and others.
|-
| 1875 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Page Act of 1875{{w|Page Act of 1875]]}}, the first United States federal restriction on immigration, passes.
|-
| 1881 || October 5 || Treaty or trade agreement || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Angell Treaty of 1880{{w|Angell Treaty of 1880]] }} is ratified. This modifies the previous [[wikipedia:Burlingame Treaty|Burlingame Treaty]] of 1868 between the United States and China, by temporarily suspending the migration of laborers (skilled and unskilled) from China.
|-
| 1882 || May 6 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Chinese Exclusion Act{{w|Chinese Exclusion Act]] }} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Chester A. Arthur|Chester A. Arthur]] after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:47th United States Congress|47th United States Congress]]. This extends the suspension of Chinese migration started by the Angell treaty.
|-
| 1882 || August 3 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1882{{w|Immigration Act of 1882]] }} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Chester A. Arthur|Chester A. Arthur]] after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:47th United States Congress|47th United States Congress]]. The Act mostly focuses on immigration enforcement but also creates new policies around excludable classes of immigrants.
|-
| 1888 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipediaw:Scott Act (1888)|Scott Act]] is passed, after the failure of negotiations for the Bayard-Zhang Treaty. The Act applies the same criteria to re-entry of Chinese into the United States as were applied to initial entry by the Chinese Exclusion Act.
|-
| 1889 || || Court case || || || ''[[wikipedia:Chae Chan Ping v. United States{{w|Chae Chan Ping v. United States]]}}'' is decided by the United States Supreme Court against the petitioner. The case upholds the Scott Act and is one of the first of numerous court cases related to immigration policy and enforcement where the court rules in favor of the government.
|-
| 1891 || March 3 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1891{{w|Immigration Act of 1891]] }} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Benjamin Harrison{{w|Benjamin Harrison]]}}, after being passed by the [[wikipedia:51st United States Congress|51st United States Congress]]. The Act expands the categories of excludable migrants, provides for more enforcement at land and sea borders, and adds authority to deport and penalties for people aiding and abetting migration.<ref name=uwb-fulltext-1891>{{cite web|url = http://library.uwb.edu/static/USimmigration/26%20stat%201084.pdf|title = An act in amendment to the various acts relative to immigration and the imortation of aliens under contract or agreement to perform labor.|date = March 3, 1891|accessdate = March 9, 2016}}</ref><ref name=suny-summary>{{cite web|url = http://people.sunyulster.edu/voughth/immlaws1875_1918.htm|title = Summary of Immigration Laws, 1875-1918|accessdate = March 9, 2016}}</ref><ref name=i2us>{{cite web|url = http://immigrationtounitedstates.org/585-immigration-act-of-1891.html|title = Immigration Act of 1891|accessdate = March 9, 2016|publisher = Immigration to the United States|last = Hester|first = Torrie}}</ref><ref name=immigration-legal-history>{{cite web|url = https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Legal_History_of_Immigration|title = Legal History of Immigration|publisher = FamilySearch|accessdate = March 11, 2016}}</ref> It also creates an Office of Superintendent of Immigration, and places it under the Department of the Treasury.<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history/organizational-timeline|title = Organizational Timeline|publisher = [[wikipedia:United States Citizenship and Immigration Services|United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]|accessdate = March 31, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1895 || || Organizational restructuring || Bureau of Immigration; modern equivalents are USCIS and CBP || || The Office of Superintendent of Immigration is upgraded to the Bureau of Immigration.<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1903 || March 3 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1903{{w|Immigration Act of 1903]]}}, also known as the '''Anarchist Exclusion Act''', is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Theodore Roosevelt|Theodore Roosevelt]], after passing the [[wikipedia:57th United States Congress|57th United States Congress]]. The Act codifies existing immigration law and also provides more grounds for excluding suspected anarchists. It has little practical effect.
|-
| 1903 || || Organizational restructuring || Bureau of Immigration; modern equivalents are USCIS and CBP || || The Bureau of Immigration is transferred to the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor.<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1906 || || Organizational restructuring || Bureaur of Immigration and Naturalization; modern equivalents are USCIS and CBP || || The Federal Naturalization Service is created, as the setting of policies for naturalization as well as the act of naturalization is now a federal responsibility. The Bureau of Immigration becomes the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1907 || February 20 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1907{{w|Immigration Act of 1907]] }} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Theodore Roosevelt|Theodore Roosevelt]], after passing the [[wikipedia:59th United States Congress|59th United States Congress]]. The Act provides more grounds for excluding immigrants.
|-
| 1907 || February || Commission || United States Congress || || The [[wikipedia:United States Congress Joint Immigration Commission{{w|United States Congress Joint Immigration Commission]] }} is formed by the United States Congress, to study the origin and consequences of recent immigration to the United States. It is known as the '''Dillingham Commission''' after its chairman, Republican Senator [[wikipedia:William P. Dillingham|William P. Dillingham]]. The Commission completes its work in 1911, producing a 41-volume report. It would be influential in shaping the [[wikipedia:Emergency Quota Act|Emergency Quota Act]] and the [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1924|Immigration Act of 1924]], and in particular, the [[wikipedia:National Origins Formula|National Origins Formula]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/dillingham.html|title = Dillingham Commission (1907–1910)|publisher = Harvard University Library Open Collections Program|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1913 || || Organizational restructuring || Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Naturalization; modern equivalents USCIS and CBP || || The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization is split into the Bureau of Immigration and the Bureau of Naturalization, and both are placed under the [[wikipedia:United States Department of Labor|United States Department of Labor]].<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1918 || || Legislation || Executive branch || A wartime requirement that visas are required for foreigners to enter the United States is made permanent.<ref name=americanbar>{{cite web|url = http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/supreme_court_preview/BriefsV4/13-1402_amicus_resp_lawprofs.authcheckdam.pdf|title = Brief of ''Amicus Curiae'' Law Professors in Support of Respondent (Kerry v. Din)|publisher = [[American Bar Association]]}}</ref> (not clear which legislation made this permanent?)
|-
| 1918 || October 16 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1918{{w|Immigration Act of 1918]]}}, also known as the '''Alien Anarchists Exclusion Act of 1918''', is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Woodrow Wilson|Woodrow Wilson]] after passing the [[wikipedia:65th United States Congress|65th United States Congress]].
|-
| 1921 || May 19 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || F (students) || The [[wikipedia:Emergency Quota Act{{w|Emergency Quota Act]]}}, also known as the '''Emergency Immigration Act of 1921''', the '''Immigration Restriction Act of 1921''', the '''Per Centum Law''', and the '''Johnson Quota Act''', is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Warren G. Harding{{w|Warren G. Harding]] }} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:67th United States Congress{{w|67th United States Congress]]}}. It significantly reduces immigration quotas from countries around the world to 3% of the population of the country already present in the United States (this formula would later be called the [[wikipedia:National Origins Formula{{w|National Origins Formula]]}}).
|-
| 1924 || May 24 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1924{{w|Immigration Act of 1924]]}}, also called the '''National Origins Act''' and the '''Asian Exclusion Act''', is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Calvin Coolidge|Calvin Coolidge]] after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:68th United States Congress{{w|68th United States Congress]]}}. This updates the National Origins Formula to reduce the percentage to 2%.
|-
| 1924 || || Organizational restructuring || United States Border Patrol || The [[wikipedia:United States Border Patrol|| {{w|United States Border Patrol]] }} is created within the Bureau of Immigration.<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1933 || || Organizational restructuring || Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS); modern equivalents are USCIS and CBP (and also ICE, though most ICE functions do not exist at the time) || || The Bureau of Immigration and Bureau of Naturalization merge into the [[wikipedia:Immigration and Naturalization Service|Immigration and Naturalization Service]] (INS).<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1940 || || Organizational restructuring || Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS); modern equivalents are USCIS and CBP (and also ICE, though most ICE functions do not exist at the time) || || The Immigration and Naturalization Service is transferred from the Department of Labor to the [[wikipedia:{{w|United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] }} (DOJ), where it would stay for the rest of its life (till early 2003).<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1943 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Magnuson Act{{w|Magnuson Act]] }} becomes law. The Act repeals the Chinese Exclusion Act, but in practice immigration from China is still significantly restricted, as a quota of 105 annual Chinese immigrants is calculated through (flawed) use of the National Origins Formula of the Immigration Act of 1924.
|-
| 1952 || June 27 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || H (temporary workers) || The [[wikipedia:Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952{{w|Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952]] }} becomes law after both chambers of the [[wikipedia:82nd United States Congress{{w|82nd United States Congress]] }} vote to override the veto of President [[wikipedia:Harry S. Truman{{W|Harry S. Truman]]}}. This is the first of two big overhauls of the immigration system (the second being in 1965). Subsequent legislations would often be framed in terms of modifications to this legislation. Among other things, the H visa category is created by this Act.
|-
| 1952 || || Organizational restructuring || U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs; current equivalent: Bureau of Consular Affairs || || This also leads to the creation of the Bureau of Inspection, Security and Consular Affairs, which is responsible for issuing visas at foreign consulates to people who want to enter the United States. In 1954, the Bureau is renamed the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs.
|-
| 1961 || September 21 || Legislation || U.S. Department of State || J (exchange visitors) || The [[wikipedia:Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961{{w|Fulbright–Hays Act of 1961]]}}, also known as the Mutual Exchange and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (MECEA), is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:John F. Kennedy{{w|John F. Kennedy]] }} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:{{w|87th United States Congress|United States Congress]]}}. The Act encourages mutual education and cultural exchange between the United States and other countries, and in particular, leads to the creation of the [[wikipedia:{{w|J-1 visa|J visa]] }} category.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/fulbrighthaysact.pdf|title = Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange Program|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1965 || October 3 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965{{w|Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965]]}}, also known as the Hart–Celler Act for its co-sponsors, is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Lyndon B. Johnson{{w|Lyndon B. Johnson]] }} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:89th United States Congress{{w|89th United States Congress]]}}. The Act would go into effect on June 30, 1968. As of 2017, it is the most recent radical overhaul of the immigration system in the United States.
|-
| 1970 || || Legislation || Immigration and Naturalization Services, U.S. Department of State || H-4, K, L || The [[wikipedia:LH-1 visa|4, K and L visa]] is visas are created by a 1970 Amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act.<ref name=pl-91-225>{{cite web|url = https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-84/pdf/STATUTE-84-Pg116.pdf|title = Public Law 91-225|accessdate = June 26, 2020}}</ref><ref name=work-visa-history/><ref name=oig-l-visa>{{cite web|url = https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mgmt/2013/OIG_13-107_Aug13.pdf|title = Implementation of L-1 Visa Regulations|publisher = Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General|date = August 9, 2013|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1976 || October 20 || Legislation || Immigration and Naturalization Services || H (temporary workers) || The Eilberg Amendment, sponsored by [[wikipedia:Joshua Eilberg{{w|Joshua Eilberg]] }} after lobbying by the [[wikipedia:Association of American Universities{{W|Association of American Universities]]}}, is signed into law.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.congress.gov/bill/94th-congress/house-bill/14535/all-actions?overview=closed#tabs|title =H.R.14535 - An Act to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes.|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref> The legislation allows nonprofit research institutions to sponsor unlimited numbers of foreign nationals without having to meet previously required standards regarding wages and working conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.thesocialcontract.com/artman2/publish/tsc1503/article_1312.shtml|title = Career Destruction Sites Is What U.S. Colleges Have Become|last = Nelson|first = Gene|publisher = [[wikipedia:The Social Contract Press|The Social Contract Press]]|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref><ref name=work-visa-history>{{cite web|url = http://immigration-weaver.blogspot.com/p/a-legislative-history-of-h-1b-and-other.html|title = A Legislative History of H-1B and Other Immigrant Work Visas|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref> It would later be cited as a precedent for the [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1990|Immigration Act of 1990]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju63314.000/hju63314_0f.htm|title = H-1B TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL WORKER VISA PROGRAM AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORKFORCE ISSUES|date = August 5, 1999|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1979 || || Organizational restructuring || U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs || || The Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs is restructured: its security functions are moved to the [[wikipedia:Bureau of Diplomatic Security|Bureau of Diplomatic Security]], and the organization is renamed te Bureau of Consular Affairs.
|-
| 1980 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:96th United States Congress{{w|96th United States Congress]] }} passes the Refugee Act of 1980, standardizing the process of refugee resettlement. This leads to the creation of the [[wikipedia:United States Refugee Admissions Program{{w|United States Refugee Admissions Program]] }} (USRAP).
|-
| 1981 || January 20 || Leadership change || Executive branch || || Republican politician [[wikipedia:Ronald Reagan{{w|Ronald Reagan]] }} is sworn in as [[wikipedia:President of the United States{{w|President of the United States]]}}.
|-
| 1982 || February 22 || Leadership change || Immigration and Naturalization Services || [[wikipedia:Alan C. Nelson|| {{w|Alan C. Nelson]] }} becomes the Comissioner of the INS, working under President [[wikipedia:Ronald Reagan|Ronald Reagan]].<ref name=uscis-nelson-bio>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history-8|title = Alan C. Nelson: Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service, February 22, 1982 - June 16, 1989|date = February 4, 2016|accessdate = October 24, 2016|publisher = [[wikipedia:United States Citizenship and Immigration Services|United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]}}</ref>
|-
| 1983 || January 9 || Organizational restructuring || Executive Office for Immigration Review, Board of Immigration Appeals, Immigration and Naturalization Services || || The [[wikipedia:Executive Office for Immigration Review{{w|Executive Office for Immigration Review]] }} (EOIR) is created as part of the U.S. Department of Justice. The EOIR combines two pre-existing functions: the [[wikipedia:Board of Immigration Appeals|Board of Immigration Appeals]] (also originally under the DOJ) and the Immigration Judge function (carried out previously by the INS, which was at the time under the DOJ).<ref name=eoir-history>{{cite web|url = https://www.justice.gov/eoir/about-office|title = About the Office|publisher = [[wikipedia:Executive Office for Immigration Review|Executive Office for Immigration Review]]|accessdate = March 18, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1985 || February || Leadership change || U.S. Department of Justice || [[wikipedia:Edwin Meese|| {{w|Edwin Meese]] }} becomes [[wikipedia:United States Attorney General{{w|United States Attorney General]]}}.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/24/us/senate-approves-meese-to-become-attorney-general.html|title = SENATE APPROVES MEESE TO BECOME ATTORNEY GENERAL|author = Leslie Maitland Wiener|date = February 24, 1985|accessdate = March 19, 2017|publisher = [[wikipedia:New York Times|New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1989-08-09/news/mn-107_1_wedtech-scandal |title=Wallach Found Guilty of Racketeering, Fraud: Meese's Friend, Two Others Convicted in Wedtech Scandal |date=1989-08-09 |first=Robert L. |last=Jackson |author2=John J. Goldman |publisher=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The Attorney General heads the U.S. Department of Justice, and prior to the September 11 attacks, the INS was under the Department of Justice.
|-
| 1986 || November 6 || Legislation (landmark) || Immigration and Naturalization Services; current equivalent: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services || H-2 (H-2A, H-2B; temporary workers) || The [[wikipedia:Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986{{w|Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986]] }} (IRCA) is signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, after passing both houses of the [[wikipedia:99th United States Congress{{w|99th United States Congress]] }} after three years of legislative back-and-forth. The key sponsores sponsors are [[wikipedia:Alan K. Simpson{{w|Alan K. Simpson]] }} and [[wikipedia:Romano L. Mazzoli{{w|Romano L. Mazzoli]]}}, so the act is also known as the Simpson–Mazzoli Act. This combines an amnesty for people who have been present in the United States for a while, a restructuring of the H-2 program splitting it into the H-2A (unlimited temporary agricultural workers) and H-2B (other temporary workers), and more resources into enforcement.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-100/pdf/STATUTE-100-Pg3445.pdf|title = Public Law 99-603|date = November 6, 1986|accessdate = March 15, 2017|publisher = [[wikipedia:United States Government Publishing Office|United States Government Publishing Office]]}}</ref> The Act also includes a provision for what would later become the [[wikipedia:Visa Waiver Program|Visa Waiver Program]].<ref>{{cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GjkHDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA173&lpg=PA173&dq=legislative+origins+of+visa+waiver+program+1986&source=bl&ots=hJ3ZWdFkez&sig=YNfFh66pk3bYN0-UXiQUrFG5JAM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiExcjQgPzSAhVI52MKHZ_GDoIQ6AEIJzAC#v=onepage&q=legislative%20origins%20of%20visa%20waiver%20program%201986&f=false|title = Foreigners, Refugees Or Minorities?: Rethinking People in the Context of Border Controls and Visas|last = Bigo|first = Didier}}</ref>
|-
| 1987 || October 21 || Deferred action || Immigration and Naturalization Services || || Alan C. Nelson, INS Commissioner announces {{w|Family Fairness}}, a deferred action policy for children (and, in rare cases, spouses) of people eligible to legalie per the IRCA, to solve the problem of split-eligibility families.<ref name=aic>{{cite web|url = https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/reagan-bush-family-fairness-chronological-history|title = Reagan-Bush Family Fairness: A Chronological History|date = December 9, 2014|accessdate = February 5, 2017|publisher = American Immigration Council}}</ref>
|-
| 1988 || July || Visas || United Kingdom || || The [[wikipedia:United Kingdom{{w|United Kingdom]] }} becomes the first country to participate in the newly created [[wikipedia:Visa Waiver Program{{w|Visa Waiver Program]] }} (VWP), a program for reciprocal visa-free travel between the United States and other countries.
|-
| 1988 || October 15 || Leadership change || U.S. Department of Justice || [[wikipedia:Dick Thornburgh|| {{w|Dick Thornburgh]] }} becomes Attorney General, succeeding scandal-engulfed Edwin Meese.
|-
| 1988 || November 18 || Legislation (adjacent) || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988{{w|Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988]] }} is signed into law by President {{w|Ronald Reagan}} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:100th United States Congress|100th United States Congress]]. The Act, though not focused on migration, introduces the concept of [[wikipedia:aggravated felony|aggravated felony]] to refer to murder, federal drug trafficking, and illicit trafficking of certain firearms and destructive devices. Aggravated felonies are grounds for removal and exclusion of aliens.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/sites/default/files/research/aggravated_felonies.pdf|title = Aggravated Felonies: An Overview|publisher = American Immigration Council|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/155/|title = Aggravated Felonies and Deportation|publisher = TRAC Immigration|accessdate = April 7, 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 1989 || January 20 || Leadership change || Executive branch || || Republican politician and incumbent vice-president [[wikipedia:George H. W. Bush{{w|George H. W. Bush]] }} becomes President of the United States, succeeding Ronald Reagan.
|-
| 1989 || June 16 || Leadership change || Immigration and Naturalization Services || || INS Commissioner Alan C. Nelson is fired, amidst clashes with Attorney General Dick Thornburgh who wants to bring the INS more firmly under his own control, as well as accusations against Nelson of mismanagement.<ref name=uscis-nelson-bio/><ref name=nyt-oblique-attack>{{cite web|url = https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/14/us/washington-talk-immigration-naturalization-service-s-chief-tilts-against-oblique.html|title = WASHINGTON TALK: IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION; Service's Chief Tilts Against an 'Oblique' Attack on His Policies|last = Berke|first = Richard|date = March 14, 1989|accessdate = October 24, 2016|publisher = ''[[New York Times]]''}}</ref><ref name=lat-fired>{{cite web|url = http://articles.latimes.com/1989-06-26/news/mn-3253_1_justice-department-justice-dept-alan-c-nelson|title = INS Chief Resigns; Under Fire in Justice Dept. Audit|publisher = [[Associated Press]]|date = June 26, 1989|accessdate = October 24, 2016}}</ref>
|-
| 1990 || February 5 || Deferred action || Immigration and Naturalization Services || || The {{w|Family Fairness}} policy is extended to spouses of IRCA-eligible people. The extension serves as a bridge to a legislation that is passed as part of the [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1990{{w|Immigration Act of 1990]]}}.<ref name=prwatch>{{cite web|url = http://www.prwatch.org/files/interpreter_releases_feb_5_1990.pdf|title = Interpreter releases: report and analysis of immigration and nationality law|date = February 5, 1990|accessdate = February 22, 2017}}</ref><ref name=nytimes-2-2>{{cite web|url = http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/05/nyregion/new-policy-aids-families-of-aliens.html|title = New Policy Aids Families of Aliens|last = Howe|first = Marvine|publisher = ''[[wikipedia:New York Times|New York Times]]''|date = }}</ref>
|-
| 1990 || ? November 29 || Landmark legislation Legislation (landmark) || Immigration and Naturalization Services || H-1 (H-1A, H-1B) || The [[wikipedia:{{w|Immigration Act of 1990|Immigration Act of 1990]] is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:George H. W. Bush{{w|George H. W. Bush]]}}. While mostly focused on legal temporary and permanent immigration, some provisions of the Act are relevant to enforcement. In particular, the Family Unity Policy passed as part of the Act supersedes the Family Fairness executive action.<ref name="Fordham Journal Highlights">{{cite web|last1=Leiden|first1=Warren|title=Highlights of the U.S. Immigration Act of 1990|url=http://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1270&context=ilj|publisher=Fordham International Law Journal|accessdate=September 30, 2014}}</ref><ref name="US immigration legislation">{{cite web|last1=Stone|first1=Stephanie|title=1190 Immigration and Nationality Act|url=http://library.uwb.edu/guides/usimmigration/1990_immigration_and_nationality_act.html|website=U.S. Immigration Legislation Online|publisher=U.S. Immigration Legislation Online|accessdate=September 30, 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 1993 || January 20 || Leadership change || Executive branch || || Democratic politician [[wikipedia:Bill Clinton{{w|Bill Clinton]] }} becomes President of the United States, after defeating incumbent George H. W. Bush in elections.
|-
| 1993 || March 11 || Leadership change || U.S. Department of Justice || [[wikipedia:Janet Reno|| {{w|Janet Reno]] }} becomes Attorney General.
|-
| 1993 || October 18 || Leadership change || Immigration and Naturalization Services || [[wikipedia:Doris Meissner|| {{w|Doris Meissner]] }} becomes INS Commissioner.<ref name=ins>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history-19|title = Doris Meissner. Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Service, October 18, 1993 - November 18, 2000|accessdate = July 5, 2016|publisher = [[wikipedia:United States Citizenship and Immigration Services|United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]}}</ref><ref name=nyt-ins-start>{{cite web|url = http://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/19/us/president-chooses-an-expert-to-halt-smuggling-of-aliens.html|title = President Chooses an Expert To Halt Smuggling of Aliens|last = Ifill|first = Gwen|date = June 19, 1993|accessdate = July 5, 2016|publisher = ''[[wikipedia:New York Times|New York Times]]''}}</ref>
|-
| 1994 || January 1 || Treaty or trade agreement || Executive branch || TN (free trade visa for Canada/Mexico) || The [[wikipedia:North American Free Trade Agreement{{w|North American Free Trade Agreement]] }} (NAFTA) comes into force. The agreement is between the [[wikipedia:United States{{w|United States]]}}, [[wikipedia:Canada{{w|Canada]]}}, and [[wikipedia:Mexico{{w|Mexico]]}}. Though primarily pertaining to trade, the agreement also includes some provisions on facilitating easier movement across borders, and in particular leads to the [[wikipedia:TN visa{{w|TN visa]]}}.
|-
| 1996 || April 24 || Legislation (adjacent) || Executive branch || || The [[wikipedia:Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996{{w|Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996]] }} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]] after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:104th United States Congress{{w|104th United States Congress]]}}. Though not focused on migration, the Act has provisions related to the removal and exclusion of alien terrorists and modification of asylum procedures.
|-
| 1996 || September 30 || Legislation (landmark) || Immigration and Naturalization Services || [[wikipedia:Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996|| {{w|Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996]] }} is signed into law by President Bill Clinton after passing both chambers of the 104th United States Congress. It includes a number of provisions facilitating various forms of immigration enforcement that would be rolled out over the next two decades.
|-
| 1997 || || Legislation || || || {{w|Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act}} (NACARA)
|-
| 1998 || October 21 || Legislation || || H-1B || {{w|American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act}} (ACWIA)
|-
| 2000 || October 17 || Legislation || || H-1B || {{w|American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act}} (AC21).
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| 2000 || October 28 || Legislation || || T, U || {{w|Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000}}. This would lead to the creation of the {{w|T visa}}, a temporary status for people who are the victims of trafficking and slave-like conditions. The status could lead to permanent residency after a few years. It would also create the {{w|U visa}} that serves a siilar purpose.
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| 2000 || December 21 || Legislation || Immigration and Naturalization Services; current equivalent United States Citizenship and Immigration Services || V, K-3, K-4 || The [[wikipedia:Legal Immigration Family Equity Act{{w|Legal Immigration Family Equity Act]] }} is passed. Among other things, the Act allows for the overlooking of unauthorized presence in the United States for people who have been in the queue for permanent residency for a long time. The Act primarily references immigrant processing functions now under USCIS rather than enforcement functions, but also contains some protection from removal proceedings. Specifically, protection from removal proceedings begins ''after'' the Form I-485 (green card application) is filed; people who are eligible for legalization in the future through this Act but are still in the queue may be subject to removal proceedings.<ref name=uscis-green-card>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/other-ways-get-green-card/green-card-through-legal-immigration-family-equity-life-act|title = Green Card Through the Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act|accessdate = February 8, 2016|publisher = [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]}}</ref><ref name=procon>{{cite web|url = http://immigration.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000793|title = What Was the 2000 Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act?|publisher = [[ProCon.org]]|accessdate = February 8, 2016}}</ref><ref name=uscis-press-release>{{cite web|url = https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/pressrelease/LegalImmigFamEquityAct_122100.pdf|title = Legal Immigration Family Equity Act|date = December 21, 2000|accessdate = February 9, 2016|publisher = [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]}}</ref>
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| 2004 || || Treaty or trade agreement || USCIS, U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs || H-1B1 || The [[wikipedia:Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement{{w|Singapore–United States Free Trade Agreement]] }} and [[wikipedia:Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement{{w|Chile–United States Free Trade Agreement]]}} becomes active. While mostly focused on trade, the agreement gives rise to the [[wikipedia:H-1B1 visa{{w|H-1B1 visa]] }} (available to people from Singapore and Chile), providing another option for people from the two countries who want to work in the United States.
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| 2004 || || Legislation || USCIS, U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs || [[wikipedia:H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004|| {{w|H-1B Visa Reform Act of 2004]] }} and [[wikipedia:L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2004{{w|L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2004]].}}
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| 2005 || || Treaty or trade agreement || USCIS, U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs || E-3 || The [[wikipedia:Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement{{w|Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement]] }} becomes active. While pertaining mostly to trade, the Agreement also leads to the creation of the [[wikipedia:E-3 visa{{w|E-3 visa]] }} category, making it easier for people from Australia to come to the United States temporarily for work.
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| 2011 || January 10 || Visas || || || The {{w|Interview Waiver Program}}, where people applying for a visa renewal can skip the visa interview under some circumstances, is announced.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://photos.state.gov/libraries/nogales/231771/PDFs/Beginning%20January%2010.pdf|title = Beginning January 10, 2011, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates will process visas differently|accessdate = January 29, 2017}}</ref> The program would roll out incrementally over the next several years until being suspended by President Donald Trump's {{w|Executive Order 13769}}
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| 2013 || March 27 to May 21 || Port of entry processing || CBP Office of Field Operations || [[wikipedia:Form I-94|| {{w|Form I-94]] }} is made electronic at air and sea ports. The announcement in the ''[[wikipedia:Federal Register|Federal Register]]'' occurs on March 27,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/03/27/2013-06974/definition-of-form-i-94-to-include-electronic-format|title = Definition of Form I-94 To Include Electronic Format|date = March 27, 2013|accessdate = December 29, 2016|publisher = ''[[Federal Register]]''}}</ref> and the rollout happens from April 30 to May 21.<ref name=nafsa-rollout>{{cite web|title = Updates On DHS Plans To Automate Form I-94 Process|url = https://www.nafsa.org/Resource_Library_Assets/Regulatory_Information/Updates_On_Electronic_Form_I-94_Process/#rollout|date = August 12, 2013|accessdate = December 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/news/end-paper-i-94-new-i-94-automation-guidelines|title = End of Paper I-94 / New I-94 Automation Guidelines|date = April 30, 2013|accessdate = December 29, 2016|publisher = [[University of Chicago]]}}</ref>
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| 2017 || January 27 || Executive order || U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, CBP Office of Field Operations || || Newly elected United States President {{w|Donald Trump}} issues {{w|Executive Order 13769}}. This immediately suspends issuance of visas to people from the 7 countries listed at the time by DHS as [[w:State Sponsors of Terrorism (U.S. list)|State Sponsors of Terrorism]]. It also suspends the {{w|Interview Waiver Program}}<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.vox.com/2017/1/27/14370854/trump-refugee-ban-order-muslim|title = Trump's executive order on refugees closes America to those who need it most. It lays the groundwork for a fundamental shift in how the US allows people to enter the country.|last = Lind|first = Dara|date = January 27, 2017|accessdate = January 29, 2017|publisher = ''[[Vox (website)|Vox]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://qz.com/895149/trump-is-suspending-the-visa-interview-waiver-program/|title = Trump just made it harder for tourists to visit the US|last = Yanofsky|first = David|date = January 27, 2017|accessdate = January 29, 2017|publisher = ''[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/politics/donald-trump-refugees-executive-order/index.html|title = Trump's latest executive order: Banning people from 7 countries and more|last = Diamond|first = Jeremy|publisher = ''[[CNN]]''|date = January 29, 2017|accessdate = January 29, 2017}}</ref>
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| 2017 || March 6 || Executive order || U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, CBP Office of Field Operations || || Newly elected United States President {{w|Donald Trump}} issues {{w|Executive Order 13780}}. This supersedes and refines Executive Order 13769, providing more detail on the ban of entry for people from the countries listed as State Sponsors of Terrorism. The list of affected countries and the nature of restriction continues to be modified. In particular, Presidential Proclamation 9645 (September 24, 2017) and Presidential Proclamation 9723 (April 10, 2018) modify the executive order.
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