Historical Immigration and Naturalization Legislation

The following compilation of federal immigration and naturalization statutes in the United States provides an overview of the legislative history of immigration to the United States. It is not exhaustive either for the number of bills enacted or for the specific points of law within each bill. This review of the federal legislative process fosters a general understanding of the major issues as they developed in the area of immigration and naturalization in the United States. The dates of enactment and Statutes-at-Large reference numbers are presented in chronological order; they provide a basis for further inquiry for more detailed information.