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This page provides a timeline of key events related to immigrant processing and visa policy of the United States. It focuses on laws, policies, and programs affecting pathways for authorized entry to the United States and long-term immigrant and non-immigrant statuses. It is complementary to the [[timeline of immigration enforcement in the United States]].
The programs discussed here mostly come under the purview of the [[wikipedia:United States Citizenship and Immigration Services{{w|United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]]}}, the [[wikipedia:U.S. Customs and Border Protection{{w|U.S. Customs and Border Protection]] }} Office of Field Operations, and the U.S. Department of State agencies such as the Bureau of Consular Affairs. For the most part, it does ''not'' deal with programs under the purview of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the United States Border Patrol. There are some exceptions (such as the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, that is under the purview of ICE). To dive deeper into immigration enforcement, look at the [[timeline of immigration enforcement in the United States]].
There are separate timelines with more detailed coverage of specific categories of visa policy: [[timeline of student visa policy in the United States]] and [[timeline of H-1B]].
| Before 1875 || || There is no federal restriction on immigration during this time period. However, there are restrictions on naturalization (initially to free white persons of good moral character, and later to white and black persons) and there are provisions for deportation for sedition. There are also state-level regulations as well as private vigilante action against immigrants, such as against the Chinese in California, that we do not cover in this timeline.
|-
| 1875{{snd}}1924 1907 || Presidents: severalmany, ending with {{w|Warren Harding}} most prominent being Chester A. Arthur and {{w|Calvin Coolidge}} Theodore Roosevelt || The period sees the gradual tightening growth of federal immigration, initially beginning with law to replace the state-level restrictions on seen earlier. The Chinese immigrationare the main nationality that is explicitly singled out, then expanding to but other legislation is mainly targeted at other East Asian immigration. Undesirable classes of immigrants begin to be enumerated, and eventually (wiith the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924) applying to all immigrationborder inspections begin.
|-
| 19251907{{snd}}1964 1924 || Presidents: several, ending with {{w|Woodrow Wilson}}, {{w| Immigration restrictions loosen slightlyWarren Harding}} and {{w|Calvin Coolidge}} || The period sees the tightening of immigration, with influenced partly by the Magnuson Act of 1943 and Dillingham Commission; the Immigration and Nationality Act of 19521917 bars immigration from large parts of Asia, but and the basic framework Emergency Quota Act of the restrictive policies 1921 and Immigration Act of 1924 remains. Though not itself a significant relaxation of also clamp down on immigrationworldwide, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 provides a legislative framework that would be modified by subsequent legislationwith most regions other than Western Europe significantly affected.
|-
| 1925{{snd}}1941 || Presidents: {{w|Calvin Coolidge}}, {{w|Herbert Hoover}}, {{w|Franklin D. Roosevelt}} || Immigration law remains largely unchanged during this period, as the United States transitions from an economic boom to the {{w|Great Depression in the United States}} and then enters {{w|World War II}}.|-| 1942{{snd}}1964 || Presidents: {{w|Franklin D. Roosevelt}}, {{w|Harry Truman}}, {{w|Dwight D. Eisenhower}}, {{w|John F. Kennedy}} || Immigration restrictions loosen slightly as the end of World War II heightens the value of international cooperation, and the United States emerges as one of two superpowers in the new world order. Legislations include the Magnuson Act of 1943, the Luce–Celler Act of 1946, and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (as well as temporary legislation such as the War Briides Act), but the basic framework of the restrictive policies of 1924 remains. Though not itself a significant relaxation of immigration, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 provides a legislative framework that would be modified by subsequent legislation.|-| 1965{{snd}}1982 || Presidents: {{w|Lyndon B. Johnson}}, {{w|Richard Nixon}}, {{w|Gerald Ford}}, {{w|Jimmy Carter}}, {{w|Ronald Reagan}} (early years) || This period sees the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, a landmark legislation that significantly increases the permissible immigration levels from most places outside of Western Europe, by imposing per-country limits that are similar across countries (this still penalizes high-population countries such as India and China, but is overall much less restrictive than before). The United Stats States Refugee Admissions Program begins. More temporary worker and fiance/spouse statuses are created.
|-
| 1983{{snd}}1992 || Presidents: {{w|Ronald Reagan}}, {{w|George H. W. Bush}} || The period sees two landmark legislations: the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, that combines amnesty, enforcement, and a more defined temporary worker program, and the Immigration Act of 1990, that creates the contemporary framework for high-skilled immigration.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Month and date (if available) !! Event type !! Affected agencies (past, and present equivalents) !! Visa letter for nonimmigrant visa !! Details!! Source countries/regions
|-
| 1790 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{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.
| 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{{w|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.|| China
|-
| 1870 || July 14 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Naturalization Act of 1870}} is signed into law by President {{w|Ulysses S. Grant}} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:41st United States Congress{{w|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 {{w|Page Act of 1875}}, the first United States federal restriction on immigration, passes.
|-
| 1881 || October 5 || Treaty or trade agreement || Executive branch || || The {{w|Angell Treaty of 1880}} is ratified. This modifies the previous [[wikipedia:Burlingame Treaty{{w|Burlingame Treaty]] }} of 1868 between the United States and China, by temporarily suspending the migration of laborers (skilled and unskilled) from China.|| China
|-
| 1882 || May 6 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The {{w|Chinese Exclusion Act}} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Chester A. Arthur{{w|Chester A. Arthur]] }} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:47th United States Congress{{w|47th United States Congress]]}}. This extends the suspension of Chinese migration started by the Angell treaty.|| China
|-
| 1882 || August 3 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The {{w|Immigration Act of 1882}} is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Chester A. Arthur{{w|Chester A. Arthur]] }} after passing both chambers of the [[wikipedia:47th United States Congress{{w|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 [[w: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.|| China
|-
| 1889 || || Court case || || || ''{{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.|| China
|-
| 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{{w|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>
|-
| 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.|| China
|-
| 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 {{w|Immigration Act of 1903}}, also known as the '''Anarchist Exclusion Act''', is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Theodore Roosevelt{{w|Theodore Roosevelt]]}}, after passing the [[wikipedia:57th United States Congress{{w|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 Bureau 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 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 {{w|Theodore Roosevelt}}, after passing the {{w|59th United States Congress}}. The Act provides more grounds for excluding immigrants.
|-
| 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{{w|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 {{w|Immigration Actof 1917}}, the {{w|Emergency Quota Act]] }}, and the [[wikipedia:Immigration Act of 1924{{w|Immigration Act of 1924]]}}, and in particular, the [[wikipedia:National Origins Formula{{w|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 {{w|United States Department of Labor}}.<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>
|-
| 1913 1917 || February 5 || Organizational restructuring Legislation (landmark) || Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Naturalization; modern equivalents USCIS and CBP Executive branch || || The Bureau {{w|Immigration Act of Immigration and Naturalization 1917}} is split into passeed by both houses of the {{w|64th United States Congress}} over the Bureau veto of Immigration President {{w|Woodrow Wilson}}. The legislation expands and consolidates the list of undesirables banned from entering the United States, including "illiterates" over the Bureau age of Naturalization16 as undesirables. It also creates an "Asiatic barred zone" from which immigration is not allowed; this includes China, British India, Afghanistan, Arabia, Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), and both are placed under the [[wikipedia:United Malay States Department , the Dutch East Indies, the Soviet Union east of Laborthe Ural Mountains, and most Polynesian islands. The Asian exclusions do not apply to those working in certain professional occupations and their immediate families: "(1) Government officers, (2) ministers or religious teachers, (3) missionaries, (4) lawyers, (5) physicians, (6) chemists, (7) civil engineers, (8) teachers, (9) students, (10) authors, (11) artists, (12) merchants, and (13) travelers for curiosity or pleasure". |United | China, British India, Afghanistan, Arabia, Burma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), the Malay States Department , the Dutch East Indies, the Soviet Union east of Labor]].<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>the Ural Mountains, and most Polynesian islands
|-
| 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 {{w|Immigration Act of 1918}}, also known as the '''Alien Anarchists Exclusion Act of 1918''', is signed into law by President [[wikipedia:Woodrow Wilson{{w|Woodrow Wilson]] }} after passing the [[wikipedia:65th United States Congress{{w|65th United States Congress]]}}.
|-
| 1921 || May 19 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || F (students) || The {{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 {{w|Warren G. Harding}} after passing both chambers of the {{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 {{w|National Origins Formula}}).|| Differently affects different countries based on populations from them already in the United States
|-
| 1923 || || Court case || || In ''{{w|United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind}}'', the {{w|Supreme Court of the United States}} rules that {{w| Bhagat Singh Thind}}, an Indian Sikh man who self-identifies as Aryan, is ineligible to naturalize, as the law allows only "free white persons" and "aliens of African nativity and persons of African descent" to become United States citizens by naturalization. || India|-| 1924 || May 24 || Legislation (landmark) || Executive branch || || The {{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{{w|Calvin Coolidge]] }} after passing both chambers of the {{w|68th United States Congress}}. This updates the National Origins Formula to reduce the percentage to 2%.|| Differently affects different countries based on populations from them already in the United States
|-
| 1924 || || Organizational restructuring || 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{{w|Immigration and Naturalization Service]] }} (INS).<ref name=uscis-organizational-timeline/>|-| 1934 || March 24 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Tydings–McDuffie Act}} establishes the process for {{w|Philippines, then an American colony, to become an independent country after a ten-year transition period. This also destroys freedom of movement from Philippines to the United States, as the now-to-be-independent Philippines is part of the Asiatic barred zone created by the Immigration Act of 1917 and reinforced by the Immigration Act of 1924. || Philippines|-| 1935 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Filipino Repatriation Act of 1935}} establishes a program to subsidize the return passage to the Philippines for Filipinos currently living in the United States. This is a followup to the {{w|Tydings–McDuffie Act}} that starts the process of Filipino independence and bans Filipino immigration. || Philippines
|-
| 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 {{w|United States 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 {{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. || China|-| 1945 || December 28 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|War Brides Act}} is signed into law by President {{w|Harry Truman}} after passing both chambers of the {{w|79th United States Congress}. 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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| 1945 1946 || December 28 June 29 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|War Brides Alien Fiancées and Fiancés Actof 1946}} becomes is signed into law. The law allows alien spouses, natural children, and adopted children of members of the by President {{w|United States Armed ForcesHarry Truman}}, "if admissible," to enter after passing both chambers of the U.S. as non-quota immigrants after {{w|World War II79th United States Congress}}. This mostly benefits Chinese, whose entry is allowed by It extends the Magnuson War Brides Act, but who are subject to strict quotasby 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.|| Philippines, India
|-
| 1946 || June 29 July 2 || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|Alien Fiancées and Fiancés Luce–Celler Act of 1946}} extends is signed into law by President {{w|Harry Truman}} after passing both chambers of the {{w|79th United States Congress}}. Proposed by Republican {{w|Clare Booth Luce}} and Democrat {{w|Emanuel Celler}} in 1943, the War Brides Act by eliminating barriers for Filipino allows annual immigration of 100 Filipinos and Indian war brides. A 1947 amendment would also remove barriers for Korean 100 Indians, and Japanese war bridesallows people of both nationalities to naturalize. The Act becomes law just two days before Filipino independence; without the Act, Filipino migration would expire on December 31have to stop completely upon Filipino independence. || Philippines, 1948.India
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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>
|-
| 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 2020, it is the most recent radical overhaul of the immigration system in the United States.|| Differently affects different countries based on their population and existing migration flows
|-
| 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>
| 1976 || October 20 || Legislation || Immigration and Naturalization Services || H (temporary workers) || The Eilberg Amendment, sponsored by {{w|Joshua Eilberg}} after lobbying by the {{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 {{w|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>
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| 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{{w|Bureau of Diplomatic Security]]}}, and the organization is renamed te Bureau of Consular Affairs.
|-
| 1980 || || Legislation || Executive branch || || The {{w|96th United States Congress}} passes the Refugee Act of 1980, standardizing the process of refugee resettlement. This leads to the creation of the {{w|United States Refugee Admissions Program}} (USRAP).
| 1981 || January 20 || Leadership change || Executive branch || || Republican politician {{w|Ronald Reagan}} is sworn in as {{w|President of the United States}}.
|-
| 1982 || February 22 || Leadership change || Immigration and Naturalization Services || || {{w|Alan C. Nelson}} becomes the Comissioner of the INS, working under President [[wikipedia:Ronald Reagan{{w|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 {{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{{w|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 || || {{w|Edwin Meese}} becomes {{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.
| 1988 || October 15 || Leadership change || U.S. Department of Justice || || {{w|Dick Thornburgh}} becomes Attorney General, succeeding scandal-engulfed Edwin Meese.
|-
| 1988 || November 18 || Legislation (adjacent) || Executive branch || || The {{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{{w|100th United States Congress]]}}. The Act, though not focused on migration, introduces the concept of [[wikipedia:aggravated felony{{w|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 {{w|George H. W. Bush}} becomes President of the United States, succeeding Ronald Reagan.
| 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{{w|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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| 1996 || September 30 || Legislation (landmark) || Immigration and Naturalization Services || || {{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.
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| 1997 || || Legislation || || || {{w|Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act}} (NACARA)|| Nicaragua
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| 1998 || October 21 || Legislation || || H-1B || {{w|American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act}} (ACWIA)
| 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 || || {{w|Form I-94}} is made electronic at air and sea ports. The announcement in the ''[[wikipedia:Federal Register{{w|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>|| Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen
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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>|| Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen
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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) Presidential Proclamation 9723 (April 10, 2018), and Presidential Proclamation 9983 (February 21, 2020) modify the executive order.
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