Immigration Act of 1891

Immigration Act of 1891
Shorttitle	Immigration Act of 1891
Longtitle	An act in amendment to the various acts relative to immigration and the importation of aliens under contract or agreement to perform labor
Enactedby	51st United States Congress
Citations	26 Stat.
Effective	March 3, 1891
Introducedby	William McKinley

Immigration Act of 1891 was a landmark legislation passed by the 51st United States Congress and signed into law by President Benjamin Harrison on March 3, 1891. The act was introduced by William McKinley, who later became the 25th President of the United States, and was designed to regulate immigration to the United States in response to the growing number of Ellis Island arrivals, including those from Italy, Germany, and Russia. The law was influenced by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was sponsored by Senator John F. Miller and Representative Horace F. Page, and aimed to restrict the influx of Chinese immigrants to the United States. The Immigration Act of 1891 also drew inspiration from the Alien Contract Labor Law of 1885, which was enacted during the presidency of Grover Cleveland.

Introduction

The Immigration Act of 1891 marked a significant shift in the United States' approach to immigration policy, as it established the Office of the Superintendent of Immigration, which later became the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service under the leadership of Commissioner General of Immigration. This office was responsible for enforcing the new regulations and overseeing the inspection process at ports of entry, including New York Harbor and San Francisco Bay. The act also introduced the concept of immigration stations, where immigrants would be processed and inspected before being allowed to enter the country, with notable examples including Angel Island and Ellis Island, which was managed by Joseph H. Senner. The legislation was influenced by the ideas of Theodore Roosevelt, who later became the 26th President of the United States, and Elihu Root, a prominent New York City lawyer and United States Secretary of State.

Background

The Immigration Act of 1891 was passed in response to the growing concerns about the impact of mass immigration on the United States economy and society, particularly in cities like New York City and Chicago. The law was influenced by the Nativist movement, which was led by organizations such as the American Protective Association and the Know Nothing Party, and sought to restrict the influx of Catholic immigrants from Ireland and Italy. The act also drew inspiration from the Foran Act of 1885, which was sponsored by Representative Martin A. Foran and aimed to prohibit the importation of contract laborers from Europe. The Immigration Act of 1891 was also shaped by the ideas of Francis Amasa Walker, a prominent economist and President of the American Statistical Association, who argued that immigration was a key factor in the United States' economic growth.

Provisions

The Immigration Act of 1891 introduced several key provisions, including the creation of a list of excluded classes, which included convicts, paupers, and polygamists. The law also established the principle of medical inspection, which required immigrants to undergo a medical examination before being allowed to enter the country, with the help of medical officers like Joseph J. Kinyoun. The act also introduced the concept of immigration quotas, which limited the number of immigrants who could enter the country from a particular region or country, such as China or Japan. The legislation was influenced by the ideas of Henry Cabot Lodge, a prominent Senator from Massachusetts, and Oscar S. Straus, a United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor.

Implementation

The Immigration Act of 1891 was implemented by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, which was responsible for enforcing the new regulations and overseeing the inspection process at ports of entry. The law was enforced by immigration inspectors like Frank P. Sargent, who later became the Commissioner General of Immigration, and medical officers like George W. Stoner. The act also established the principle of deportation, which allowed the United States government to remove undesirable aliens from the country, with the help of deportation officers like Anthony Caminetti. The legislation was influenced by the ideas of Terence V. Powderly, a prominent labor leader and Commissioner General of Immigration, and Samuel Gompers, the founder of the American Federation of Labor.

Impact

The Immigration Act of 1891 had a significant impact on the United States, as it marked a shift towards a more restrictive immigration policy. The law led to a decrease in the number of immigrants entering the country, particularly from Southern Europe and Eastern Europe. The act also led to the establishment of immigration stations like Ellis Island, which became a major processing center for immigrants entering the United States. The legislation was influenced by the ideas of Woodrow Wilson, who later became the 28th President of the United States, and Louis F. Post, a prominent labor leader and Assistant Secretary of Labor. The act also had an impact on the United States economy, as it restricted the influx of cheap labor from Europe and led to an increase in wages for American workers.

Legacy

The Immigration Act of 1891 has had a lasting impact on the United States' approach to immigration policy. The law established the principle of immigration restriction, which has been a cornerstone of United States immigration policy ever since. The act also led to the establishment of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, which has played a key role in enforcing immigration laws and regulating the flow of immigrants into the country. The legislation was influenced by the ideas of Herbert Hoover, who later became the 31st President of the United States, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who implemented the New Deal policies. The act has also been cited as an influence by Supreme Court justices like Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and Louis Brandeis, and has been the subject of numerous Supreme Court cases, including Chae Chan Ping v. United States and Fong Yue Ting v. United States.

Category:United States immigration and nationality law