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| 1891 || March 3 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Immigration Act of 1891}} is signed into law by President {{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>
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| 1892 || May 5 || Legislation || Executive branch || The {{w|Geary Act}}, written by California Congressman {{w|Thomas J. Geary}}, becomes law. In addition to extending the Chinese Exclusion Act's prohibition on migration of Chinese laborers for another ten years, the Act also begins requiring Chinese in the United States to obtain and keep "certificates of residence" to demonstrate that they have been present in the United States since before immigration of Chinese laborers was banned. After Ny Look, a Chinese civil war veteran, is arrested for failure to obtain a certification, Judge {{w|Emile Henry Lacombe}} of the U.S. Circuit Court in the Southern District of New York, ruled in {{w|In re Ny Look}} that there are no deportation provisions in the law and Look could not be detained indefinitely therefore he should be released. This leads to the McCreary Amendment, giving Chinese an additional six months to register, and changing some of the requirements for certificates.
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| 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/>
| 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/>
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| 1907 || February 15 || Informal agreement || Executive branch || || The {{w|Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907}} is informally agreeed upon between the United States and Japan, whereby the United States would not impose restrictions on Japanese immigration and Japan would not allow further emigration to the United States. The agreement would never be ratified by United States Congress, and would eventually be superseded by the {{w|Immigration Act of 1924}}.|-| 1907 || February 20 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Immigration Act of 1907}} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Theodore Roosevelt{{w|Theodore Roosevelt]]}}, after passing the [[wikipedia:59th United States Congress{{w|59th United States Congress]]}}. The Act provides more grounds for excluding immigrants.
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| 1907 || February || Commission || United States Congress || || The {{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>
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| 1943 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{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.
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| 1945 || December 28 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|War Brides Act}} becomes law. The law allows alien spouses, natural children, and adopted children of members of the {{w|United States Armed Forces}}, "if admissible," to enter the U.S. as non-quota immigrants after {{w|World War II}}. This mostly benefits Chinese, whose entry is allowed by the Magnuson Act, but who are subject to strict quotas. The Act would expire on December 31, 1948.
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| 1946 || June 29 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Alien Fiancées and Fiancés Act of 1946}} extends the War Brides Act by eliminating barriers for Filipino and Indian war brides. A 1947 amendment would also remove barriers for Korean and Japanese war brides. The Act would expire on December 31, 1948.
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| 1952 || June 27 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || H (temporary workers) || The {{w|Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952}} becomes law after both chambers of the {{w|82nd United States Congress}} vote to override the veto of President {{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.
| 1961 || September 21 || Legislation || U.S. Department of State || J (exchange visitors) || The {{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 {{w|John F. Kennedy}} after passing both chambers of the {{w|87th 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 {{w|J-1 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>
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| 1965 || October 3 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The {{w|Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965}}, also known as the Hart–Celler Act for its co-sponsors, is signed into law by President {{w|Lyndon B. Johnson}} after passing both chambers of the {{w|89th United States Congress}}. The Act would go into effect on June 30, 1968. As of 20172020, it is the most recent radical overhaul of the immigration system in the United States.
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| 1970 || || Legislation || Immigration and Naturalization Services, U.S. Department of State || H-4, K, L || The H-4, K and L 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>
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| 1994 || January 1 || Treaty or trade agreement || Executive branch || TN (free trade visa for Canada/Mexico) || The {{w|North American Free Trade Agreement}} (NAFTA) comes into force. The agreement is between the {{w|United States}}, {{w|Canada}}, and {{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 {{w|TN visa}}.
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| 1995 || || Visas || U.S. Department of State || DV (immigrant visa category) || The first lottery of the current incarnation of the {{w|Diversity Immigrant Visa}} (Diversity Visa, DV) is conducted, in accordance with the Immigration Act of 1990. The DV succeeds three similar programs: the first-come first-serve NP-5 (1987 {{snd}} 1989), lottery-based OP-1 (1989 {{snd}} 1991), and AA-1 (1992 {{snd}} 1994). Efforts to end the program would start in 2005, but the program would continue until 2020. Only people whose country of chargeability has sent fewer than 50,000 immigrants in the last 5 years (in the family-based and employment categories) are eligible for the DV lottery.
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| 1996 || April 24 || Legislation (adjacent) || Executive branch || || The {{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 {{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.
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| 2013 || March 27 to May 21 || Port of entry processing || CBP Office of Field Operations || || {{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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| 2016 || || Visas || || || The rules of the {{w|Visa Waiver Program}} (VWP) are modified so that now, a person who would otherwise qualify for visa-free entry under the VWP must still get a visa if that person has visited any country on te list of [[w:State Sponsors of Terrorism (U.S. list)|State Sponsors of Terrorism]] on or after March 1, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2016/02/18/dhs-announces-further-travel-restrictions-visa-waiver-program|title=DHS Announces Further Travel Restrictions for the Visa Waiver Program - Homeland Security|publisher=|date=2016-02-18}}</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), and Presidential Proclamation 9983 (February 21, 2020) modify the executive order.|-| 2017 || October 25 || Leadership change || USCIS || || {{w|Lee Cissna}} becomes USCIS Director, replacing Leon Rodriguez, who had served as USCIS Director under the Obama administration.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cairny|first1=Jordain|title=Senate votes to confirm key Trump immigration official|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/354051-senate-votes-to-confirm-key-trump-immigration-official|accessdate=July 5, 2020|publisher=The Hill|date=October 5, 2017}}</ref> According to a September 2018 profile in ''Politico'', as the head of USCIS, Cissna has "transformed his agency into more of an enforcement body and less of a service provider."<ref name=politico>{{cite news |last1=Hesson |first1=Ted |title=The Man Behind Trump’s ‘Invisible Wall’ |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/09/20/uscis-director-lee-francis-cissna-profile-220141|accessdate=July 5, 2020|publisher=Politico |date=September 20, 2018}}</ref>|-| 2017 || December 6 || Leadership change || U.S. Department of Homeland Security || {{w|Kirstjen Nielsen}} assumes the office of Secretary of Homeland Security, replacing acting Secretary {{w|Elaine Duke}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/12/06/kirstjen-m-nielsen-sworn-sixth-homeland-security-secretary|title=Kirstjen M. Nielsen Sworn-in as the Sixth Homeland Security Secretary|date=December 6, 2017|website=Department of Homeland Security |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206174245/https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/12/06/kirstjen-m-nielsen-sworn-sixth-homeland-security-secretary |archivedate=December 6, 2017|deadurl=no|access-date=December 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="NYT Confirmation">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/us/politics/kirstjen-nielsen-confirmed-homeland-security-secretary.html|title=Kirstjen Nielsen, White House Aide, Is Confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary|last=Nixon|first=Ron|date=December 5, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 5, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205231406/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/us/politics/kirstjen-nielsen-confirmed-homeland-security-secretary.html |archivedate=December 5, 2017|deadurl=no|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> According to CNN, the hiring of Nielsen is based on a strong positive recommendation from White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly.<ref name=cnn-nielsen-departure/>|-| 2017{{snd}}2020 || || U.S. Department of State || || Under President {{w|Donald Trump}}, the United States' refugee program is significantly pared back. {{w|Executive Order 13769}} (January 27, 2017) puts a temporary moratorium on all refugee admissions. Refugee admissions are resumed in late October 2017, but refugees are not allowed from 11 countries, and other restrictions are added, causing a drop in the number of refugees. The administration further cuts the refugee quota in 2018 and 2019, and refugeee admissions are effectively halted in 2020 because Trump does not set a quota. Learn more at {{w|Immigration policy of Donald Trump#Travel ban and refugee suspension}} and {{w|Asylum in the United States}}.|-| 2019 || April 7 || Leadership change | U.S. Department of Homeland Security || {{w|Kirstjen Nielsen}} resigns as Secretary of Homeland Security, with April 10 being her last day. Commentators attribute her resignation to Trump's desire to push harder on immigration enforcement, and his dissatisfaction with what Nielsen accomplished on that front, as well as her pushback against some of his demands. Trump's political advisor Stephen Miller is believed by commentators to be a key opponent of Nielsen in the White House.<ref name=cnn-nielsen-departure>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/08/politics/kirstjen-nielsen-last-days-dhs/index.html|title=How border hardliners nudged out Nielsen|last=Alvarez|first=Priscilla|last2=Sands|first2=Geneva|date=April 8, 2019|publisher=CNN|access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kirstjen-nielsen-resigning-dhs-secretary-expected-to-offer-resignation-today-live-updates-2019-04-07/ |title=DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigns after clashes with Trump on immigration |date=April 7, 2019 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 8, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> {{w|Kevin McAleenan}}, then the Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, becomes the next Secretary of Homeland Security; {{w|Claire Grady}}, who would have otherwise been the person to assume the role, is forced by Donald Trump to resign at the same time as Nielsen so that McAleenan can take the role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2OXDVkD|title=Legality of Trump move to replace Nielsen questioned|last=Gerstein|first=Josh|last2=Beasley|first2=Stephanie|website=POLITICO|language=en|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref> According to CNN, McAleenan is "a career official who served in the Obama administration and whom a senior DHS official says is "not an ideologue or fire breather" on immigration."<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/07/politics/kevin-mcaleenan-acting-secretary-homeland-security/index.html|title = Incoming acting secretary of Homeland Security 'not an ideologue or fire breather'|last = Sullivan|first = Kate|last2 = Sands|first2 = Geneva|last3 = Acosta|first3 = Jim|date = Aprili 8, 2019|accessdate = July 5, 2020}}</ref>|-| 2019 || June 10 || Leadership change || USCIS || || {{w|Ken Cuccinelli}} succeeds {{w|Lee Cissna}} as USCIS Director. A Republican politician and lawyer, Cuccinelli had taken hardline positions on immigration-related matters in past jobs. In April 2019, while reporting on the resignation of DHS Secretary {{w|Kirstjen Nilsen}}, ''Politico'' had reported that {{w|Stephen Miller (political advisor)}} had been pressuring Trump to get rid of Cissna.ref name=Kumar>{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/04/07/stephen-miller-trump-immigration-1260431 |last=Kumar |first=Anita |title=Stephen Miller pressuring Trump officials amid immigration shakeups |date=April 7, 2019 |website=[[Politico]]}}</ref> Coverage in the ''New York Times'' of the public charge rule released by USCIS in August 2019 suggests that this replacement helped the Trump administration move forward faster with the public charge rule than they would have bee able to with Cissna.<ref name=nyt-public-charge/>|-| 2019 || August 12 (announcement), October 15 (effective date) || || USCIS || || USCIS announces a new rule restricting lawful permanent residence: any person who has received public benefits such as {{w|Supplemental Security Income}}, {{w|Temporary Assistance for Needy Families}}, the {{w|Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program}}, {{w|Medicaid}}, and public housing assistance for more than a total of twelve months within any 36-month period may be classified as a "public charge" ineligible for permanent residency. Refugees, asylum seekers, pregnant women, children, and family members of those serving in the Armed Forces are excluded from the restrictions.<ref name=nyt-public-charge>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/us/politics/trump-immigration-policy.html|title=Trump Policy Favors Wealthier Immigrants for Green Cards|last1=Shear|first1=Michael D.|date=August 12, 2019|work=The New York Times|accessdate=August 12, 2019|last2=Sullivan|first2=Eileen|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-benefits-idUSKCN1V219N|title=New Trump rule would target legal immigrants who get public assistance|date=August 12, 2019|work=Reuters|accessdate=August 12, 2019}}</ref>|-| 2020 || March 1 || Leadership change || USCIS || || US District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss rules that Cuccinelli was not appointed to serve as acting director lawfully (i.e., his appointment violated the {{w|Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998}}) and therefore lacked authority to issue two directives for which a lawsuit has been filed against him. Cuccinelli is replaced by acting director Mark Koumans.
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