© Getty Images

What is immigration? -

Immigration is defined by Merriam-Webster as "travel into a country for the purpose of permanent residence there."

© Getty Images

What is border control? -

Border control comprises the actions taken by governments to monitor and regulate the movement of people, animals, and goods across land, air, and maritime borders. 

© Getty Images

How many people in the US are immigrants? -

According to the latest data, the US foreign-born population reached 51.6 million in 2024, accounting for 15.6% of the total population.

© Getty Images

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) -

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a US law that prohibited Chinese laborers from entering the US for 10 years and denied citizenship to Chinese immigrants who were already living in America.

© Getty Images

The Gentlemen's Agreement (1907-1908) -

In the early 20th century, anti-Japanese sentiment was growing in the US, particularly on the West Coast. This was driven by fears of economic competition and racial prejudice.

© Getty Images

The Gentlemen's Agreement (1907-1908) -

US Secretary of State Elihu Root and Japan's Foreign Minister Tadasu Hayashi made an agreement that Japan would limit the issuance of passports to Japanese laborers intending to move to the US. In exchange, the US would address discriminatory practices against Japanese immigrants, like segregation in schools.

© Getty Images

Immigration Act of 1917 -

Nativism and xenophobia were on the rise in the US in the early 20th century. These factors, along with fears of political radicalism following the 1917 Russian Revolution, led Congress to create the Immigration Act of 1917.

© Getty Images

Immigration Act of 1917 -

The Immigration Act of 1917, also known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, effectively banned immigration from Asia and the Pacific Islands. The act also introduced a literacy test in which immigrants over the age of 16 were required to demonstrate the ability to read in any language.

© Getty Images

Emergency Quota Act (1921) -

In the aftermath of World War I, the US introduced a quota system that limited the number of immigrants allowed entry into the country.

© Getty Images

Emergency Quota Act (1921) -

While the Emergency Quota Act didn't outright ban immigrants from specific countries, it did limit immigration from places like Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia. It laid the groundwork for the more restrictive Immigration Act of 1924.

© Getty Images

Immigration Act of 1924 -

The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, was a US law that implemented strict quotas on immigration, limiting the number of immigrants allowed to enter the country each year.

© Getty Images

Immigration Act of 1924 -

Immigrants from Northern and Western Europe were favored, while Southern and Eastern European and African immigrants were severely restricted. Immigration from Asia was banned completely.

© Getty Images

World War II and the refugee crisis (1930 to 1945) -

As the Nazis rose to power and World War II intensified, Jewish refugees and other persecuted groups fled to the US. However, the country was reluctant to accept them due to widespread isolationism, economic concerns, and existing immigration quotas.

© Getty Images

World War II and the refugee crisis (1930 to 1945) -

One of the most tragic examples of the US's reluctance to accept refugees occurred in 1939 when the MS St. Louis, carrying over 900 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany, was denied entry. The ship was forced to return to Europe, and many of the passengers lost their lives in the Holocaust.

© Getty Images

Immigration Act of 1952 -

During the Cold War, fears of communism and the influence of foreign ideologies gripped the US.

© Getty Images

Immigration Act of 1952 -

The Immigration Act of 1952, also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, introduced new restrictions aimed at excluding immigrants based on their political beliefs, particularly those who were communists or deemed subversive. 

© Getty Images

Operation Wetback (1954) -

Operation Wetback was a government initiative launched in 1945 which led to the deportation of nearly 1.3 million Mexican nationals, many of whom were American citizens or legal residents.

© Getty Images

Operation Wetback (1954) -

During World War II, the U.S. launched the Bracero Program in 1942 to address labor shortages by allowing Mexican workers to enter legally. By 1950, concerns over rising undocumented immigration led to a mass deportation effort, raising significant human rights concerns.

© Getty Images

Operation Gatekeeper (1994) -

Operation Gatekeeper was a US Border Control initiative launched in 1994 aimed at increasing border security and reducing illegal immigration, particularly along the US-Mexico border.

© Getty Images

Operation Gatekeeper (1994) -

The Clinton administration aimed to secure the US border through increased patrols, the construction of physical barriers, and the use of advanced surveillance technology. While the border wasn't "closed," it reduced unauthorized crossings and marked a shift towards more militarized border enforcement.

© Getty Images

Post 9/11 immigration policies -

After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, national security concerns led to a significant change in US immigration policy.

© Getty Images

Post 9/11 immigration policies -

The US implemented stricter visa controls, background checks, and surveillance of immigrant communities, with a focus on those from Muslim-majority countries. The Patriot Act also gave the government power to detain and deport immigrants suspected of terrorism or having connections to terrorist organizations.

© Getty Images

First Trump administration (2017 to 2021) -

The first Trump administration implemented a series of executive actions aimed at restricting entry to the US from several countries, citing national security and immigration control.

© Getty Images

First Trump administration (2017 to 2021) -

Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that suspended entry to the US for citizens from several predominantly Muslim countries. He also halted the US refugee program for 120 days and suspended Syrian refugee admissions indefinitely.

© Getty Images

COVID-19 pandemic (2020) -

The global COVID-19 pandemic caused governments around the world to take extraordinary measures to limit the spread of the virus. 

© Getty Images

COVID-19 pandemic (2020) -

The US imposed travel restrictions on several countries, particularly those heavily affected by COVID-19. The restrictions limited or banned non-citizens and non-residents from entering the US.

© Getty Images

COVID-19 pandemic (2020) -

In March 2020, the Trump administration invoked Title 42, which allowed for the immediate expulsion of individuals arriving at the border to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This policy enabled border authorities to expel migrants without allowing them to apply for asylum or other forms of relief, which raised human rights concerns.

© Getty Images

Second Trump administration (2025 - ) -

President Trump deployed federal troops to the US-Mexico border to address illegal immigration. Shortly after his inauguration, he declared a national emergency at the southern border, leading to the closure of the El Paso port of entry.

© Getty Images

Second Trump administration (2025 - ) -

Subsequently, the Pentagon began deploying active-duty service members, including soldiers and Marines, to the border region. These troops have been tasked with constructing physical barriers, providing logistical support, and assisting with the deportation of detained migrants. The military presence at the border is approximately 9,600.

© Getty Images

Second Trump administration (2025 - ) -

Additionally, the administration has utilized military aircraft to transport migrants to various countries and has expanded detention facilities, including plans to house tens of thousands of migrants at Guantanamo Bay.

Sources: (Britannica) (The Washington Post) (Immigration History)

See also: The countries with the strictest immigration laws

© Getty Images