U.S. Immigration Policy, Ethnicity, and Religion in American History

by Michael C. LeMay

Overview

This invaluable resource investigates U.S. immigration policy, making connections between the ethnic and religious affiliations of immigrants and trends in immigration, both legal and unauthorized.

U.S. Immigration Policy, Ethnicity, and Religion in American History is rich with data and document excerpts that illuminate the complex relationships among ethnicity, religion, and immigration to the United States over a 200-year period.

The book uniquely organizes the flow of immigration to the United States into seven chapters covering U.S. immigration policymaking: the Open Door Era, 1820–1880; the Door Ajar Era, 1880–1920; the Pet Door Era, 1920–1950; the Dutch Door Era, 1950–1985; the Revolving Door Era, 1985–2001; and the Storm Door Era, 2001–2018. Each chapter analyzes trends in ethnicity or national origin and the religious affiliations of immigrant groups in relation to immigration policy during the time period covered.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440864377
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/25/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Michael C. LeMay is professor emeritus at California State University, San Bernardino. He is author of more than two dozen academic titles, many of which deal with immigration history and policy.

Table of Contents

Tables and Boxes ix

Introduction xi

Chapter 1 An Overview of U.S. Immigration Policy Making 1

Introduction: The Importance of Immigration and Religion in America 1

The Waves of Immigration 5

Established Religions, Newcomers, and Religious Freedom 7

The Six Phases of Immigration Policy Making 13

Conclusion 28

Chronology 28

References 42

Chapter 2 The Open Door Era, 1820-1880 47

Introduction: Religious Motivation in Colonial Immigration 47

Religious Influences on Early American Politics 48

Religious/Ethnic Groups in the Old Immigrant Wave 51

Nativist Political Reaction to Changing Immigration and Their Policy Demands 69

Conclusion 84

References 86

Chapter 3 The Door Ajar Phase, 1880-1920 93

Introduction: The Change in Immigrant Waves 93

The New Immigrant Wave: Changing Flow, Changing Laws 96

Italian Immigrants 98

Greek Immigrants 103

Polish Immigrants 105

Russian Immigrants 106

Eastern European Jews 109

The First Restrictionist Laws: Attempts to Close the Golden Door 111

The Push to Further Close the Door, 1890-1920 115

Conclusion 123

References 124

Chapter 4 The Pet Door Era, 1920-1950 129

Introduction: Establishing the Quota System 129

The Quota Act of 1921 130

The immigration Quota Act of 1924 139

The National Origins Quota Act of 1929 145

The Great Depression Decade, 1930-1940 152

The World War II Years 157

Hasidic Jewish Migration and Immigration 161

Conclusion 163

References 164

Chapter 5 The Dutch Door Era, 1950-1985 167

Introduction: Postwar Immigration Policy 167

The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952 170

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 179

Exponential Rise in Unauthorized Immigration, 1970-1985 193

Conclusion 194

References 196

Chapter 6 The Revolving Door Era, 1985-2001 201

Introduction: Religious Trends and Policy-Development of IRCA 201

The Push to Formulate a Legislative Response 203

Policy Adoption: Passing of IRCA, 1986 212

Split Congressional Voting Blocs 217

Two Models of Policy Conflict 218

Legislative Strategies and Intent 222

Policy Implementation: Problems with IRCA 224

Legislative Policy Making Post-IRCA 226

Conclusion 228

References 230

Chapter 7 The Storm Door Era, 2001-2018 233

Introduction: Religious Trends and the Making of Fortress America 233

The USA Patriot Act 234

Dissolving the INS, Creating the DHS 240

Groupthink and Other Problems in the Rush to Create DHS 242

Further Actions to Build Fortress America 247

Legislative Proposals Introduced and Pending Since 2013 253

President Trump and the Attack on Muslims and Sanctuary Cities 255

Conclusion 257

References 262

Bibliography 267

Index 285