Chapter 13

Recap: What is the Immigration Act of 1924 and the national origins system?

The Immigration act of 1924 was a federal law that was enacted in order to limit the number of immigrants who could be admitted to the country. The national origins act established quotas to monitor basic immigration. This remained the basic law of the land till 1965. The 19 24 Act was said to be, “ a racist and discriminatory system that was so much the product of the tribal twenties.”

How did the Cold War effect immigration and immigration policy?

“The act ended the total exclusion of racial and ethnic groups from naturalization and immigration… Essentially made laws colorblind”

“Just as the granting of the right of naturalization to Chinese in 1943 should be seen as a war measure, the further liberalization in 1952 should be seen as the fruit of the cold war.”

The cold war forced America to make provisions concerning the Walter McCarren Act. What I found to be so significant is that America is having its first struggle in becoming a leader of the “free world” amongst the majors acting countries and therefore the status of the law needed change in order to practice a more friendly immigration process. Although much of the original act, as well as the national origins system, were preserved, it is made clear that the U.S. must now begin to carry out “free world” governance.

What was surprising about who was admitted under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948?

It was the first piece of American legislation that set refugee policy rather then an immigration policy. The act was originally made for Nazi regime victims, but most who came benefited from Third Reich.

What did President Truman say was the greatest vice of the quota system and what was he specifically referring to?

“It discriminates, deliberately and intentionally, against many of the peoples of the world. The purpose behind it was to cut down and virtually eliminate immigration to this country from Southern and Eastern Europe.”

President Truman approved of the innovations of the bill, yet vetoed it… however it was still reenacted.

While immigration policy was still focused on Europe, who was really immigrating to the U.S. in larger numbers and why?

1950s- half of immigration was coming from Europe

1960s- 1/3 was coming from Europe

1980s- just over a 1/10 was coming from Europe

Latin American and Asians were where the large number of immigrants to the U.S. came from. The Chart 13.1 on page 335 shows legal immigration to the United States and shows clearly that, although policy was still focused in Europe, the largest number of immigrants did not come from Europe but from Latin America and Asia, especially after 1960.

What was revolutionary about the Immigration Act of 1965 and how did it fit with the national mood?

The original refugee act was limited. The act did not sufficiently make provisions for all groups. In 1965 Latin America was brought into the definition. Egalitarianism was the national consensus.

What were the unanticipated results of the 1965 law?

More then 2.25 million persons were admitted to the U.S. as refugees.

How does a refugee differ from an asylee?

An asylee must meet the same criteria that refugees follow, however, an asylee is a person who applies for entry into the U.S. while already here. The book specifies immigrants with student and work visas as asylees. . After reading this I felt that asylees are extremely common and don’t always fit in the category of a student or worker, instead they are usually illegal.

How did American attitudes toward refugees change between WWII and 1980?

“At the end of WW2, making provisions for any refugees had been highly controversial. 35 years later, the notion that the U.S. was OBLIGATED to take in refugees and have a generous policy toward them, or some of them, was totally uncontroversial. Having a refugee policy was part of the national consensus.”

What was the Mariel Crisis and how did it compare with Haiti's boat people?

Mariel Crisis was a three-way dispute between Cuba, Peru, and the U.S. over the right of some 3,500 dissident Cuban. The situation escalated to 125,000 Cubans in a matter of weeks. Haiti’s boat people were said to be leaving from poor economic conditions rather then

This quote sums up a common theme of this chapter, “On one hand Cold War imperatives made it wish to accept those seeking freedom from communism and to embarrass its enemy, Fidel Castro; on the other hand, it wanted the bureaucratic order suggested by the 1980 Refugee Act.” The head of state administration must choose its position. It can take the risk of accepting the refugees and hope that it is an orderly process or it could have rejected the refugees and faced questioning of a hypocritical stance.