Anti Immigration Laws Essay

The History of immigration laws in the U.S that restricting entrance to certain nationalities, exemplifies anti-immigration sentiments which were based on racist ideologies. As already noted the U.S was a nation founded by immigrants who came to the U.S seeking economic opportunities to take advantage of the rise of capitalism. For a hundred years’ movement in and out of the U.S was unrestricted, however by the late 19th century descendants of these first immigrants, began to question the right of certain nationalities to enter and make a life in the U.S. The first exclusionary law that put restrictions on immigrants did not actually restrict to movement of people but established who could become American citizens. It restricted citizenship …show more content…
However, as time passed and with the continue restriction of Asian immigrants, many whites began focusing on differences in skin tone and religion. This can be seen with the arrival of Italians who were a bit darker, many whites began questioning if they had the right to be American citizens. It was also a consequence of a growing anti-Catholic sentiment that had been brewing in the nation of mostly protestant whites. After the civil war, the country experienced a labor shortage especially in the south which depended greatly on slave labor. After their arrival Italian immigrants found themselves targets of discrimination and economic exploitation. They also found themselves victim of lynching, in New Orleans in 1981, nine Italians who were accused and acquitted of killing a police offer, along with two other Italians who were being held in a Jail were lynched by an angry mob who stormed the Jailhouse and dragged them out. What followed was not remorse but a round up and arrest of over a hundred Italians who were perceived by the public as being criminals. What made it worst was an endorsement by politicians such as Teddy. Roosevelt who when asked about the lunching stated that, “they were rather a good thing.” And John Parker who had aided in the organization of the Lynch