How has immigration changed america?

Fifty years after the signing of the landmark Immigration and Naturalization Act, a total of 59 million people have migrated to the United States, according to a new report. Before 1965, immigrants coming to American shores had been primarily European. read more

Immigration has affected American culture in many ways from adding resources in the form of workers, allowing the country to remain demographically youthful, enriching the nation with new cultures and contributing to America's influence throughout the global world. read more

A review of that law and its impact provides many lessons for today, notably that substantial change can be a very lengthy process and "reform" can have huge, unforeseen consequences. The Immigration Act, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson 50 years ago on Oct. 3 and took full effect three years later. read more

How U.S. immigration laws and rules have changed through history By D’Vera Cohn The United States began regulating immigration soon after it won independence from Great Britain, and the laws since enacted have reflected the politics and migrant flows of the times. read more

Immigration always has been controversial in the United States. More than two centuries ago, Benjamin Franklin worried that too many German immigrants would swamp America's predominantly British culture. In the mid-1800s, Irish immigrants were scorned as lazy drunks, not to mention Roman Catholics. read more