Immigration Act of 1917

Immigration Act of 1917 was a landmark legislation passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by Woodrow Wilson, which significantly altered the United States' immigration policy. The law was introduced by James Robert Mann, a Republican congressman from Illinois, and was influenced by the Dillingham Commission, a United States Senate committee led by William Paul Dillingham. The Act was also shaped by the ideas of Francis Walker, a prominent demographer and economist who served as the superintendent of the United States Census Bureau. The law's provisions were informed by the experiences of Ellis Island and the Angel Island Immigration Station, two major immigration inspection stations in the United States.

● Introduction

The Immigration Act of 1917 was a response to the growing concerns about immigration and its impact on American society, as expressed by Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Croly, and other prominent progressive thinkers. The law was designed to restrict immigration from certain parts of the world, particularly Asia and Southern Europe, and to impose stricter literacy tests on prospective immigrants, as advocated by Edward Alfred Steiner and Frank Julian Warne. The Act also established the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Immigration, which was tasked with enforcing the new immigration laws, and was influenced by the work of Louis Brandeis and Florence Kelley. The law's introduction was also influenced by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Federation of Labor, which had been advocating for stricter immigration controls.

● Background

The Immigration Act of 1917 was preceded by a series of immigration laws and regulations, including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was signed into law by Chester A. Arthur, and the Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907, a diplomatic agreement between the United States and Japan that restricted Japanese immigration. The law was also influenced by the eugenics movement, which was led by Charles Davenport and Madison Grant, and the nativist movement, which was led by Theodore Roosevelt and Warren G. Harding. The Dillingham Commission's report, which was released in 1911, provided a comprehensive analysis of immigration and its impact on American society, and was influenced by the work of W.E.B. Du Bois and Jane Addams. The report's findings were also informed by the experiences of Jacob Riis and Helen Campbell, two prominent social reformers who had worked with immigrant communities.

● Provisions

The Immigration Act of 1917 introduced several key provisions, including a literacy test that required prospective immigrants to demonstrate a basic understanding of English or another language, as advocated by Horace Mann and John Dewey. The law also established a barred zone, which prohibited immigration from a designated area of Asia and the Pacific Islands, and was influenced by the ideas of Alfred Thayer Mahan and Halford Mackinder. The Act also imposed stricter quotas on immigration from certain parts of Europe, particularly Southern Europe and Eastern Europe, and was shaped by the experiences of World War I and the Russian Revolution of 1917. The law's provisions were also informed by the work of Emily Balch and Crystal Eastman, two prominent social reformers who had worked on immigration issues.

● Impact

The Immigration Act of 1917 had a significant impact on immigration to the United States, as noted by Oscar Handlin and John Higham. The law's literacy test and barred zone provisions reduced the number of immigrants entering the country, particularly from Asia and Southern Europe, and were influenced by the ideas of Lothrop Stoddard and Kenneth Roberts. The Act also led to an increase in deportations and exclusions, as the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Immigration enforced the new immigration laws, and was shaped by the experiences of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. The law's impact was also felt by refugees and asylum seekers, who faced increased scrutiny and deportation, as noted by Jane Addams and Lillian Wald.

● Legacy

The Immigration Act of 1917 has had a lasting impact on United States immigration policy, as noted by Roger Daniels and Aristide Zolberg. The law's provisions, particularly the literacy test and barred zone, were later incorporated into the National Origins Act of 1924, which was signed into law by Calvin Coolidge, and the Emergency Quota Act of 1921, which was signed into law by Warren G. Harding. The Act also influenced the development of immigration policy in other countries, including Canada and Australia, and was shaped by the ideas of Harold Laski and G.D.H. Cole. The law's legacy continues to be felt today, as immigration remains a contentious issue in American politics, with advocates such as Malcolm X and Cesar Chavez pushing for more liberal immigration policies, and critics such as Pat Buchanan and Peter Brimelow advocating for stricter immigration controls. Category:United States immigration and nationality law