2015 Event Pope Francis becomes the first pope in history to speak to the U.S. Congress; the pontiff exhorted the lawmakers to work together to address climate change, immigration reform and other issues that have stalled due to strong political division 2014 Event Swiss voters decide against a proposal to limit annual immigration to 0.2% of the population, or to approximately 16,000 people; the current immigration rate is about 80,000 people per year 2014 Event U.S. President Barack Obama requests $2 billion for emergency measures to address illegal immigration and enhance security at the border with Mexico; thousands of children have been caught in the last 8 months crossing the border without adults 2012 Event The President of France, Niclas Sarkozy, announces a plan to cut immigration to France by 50 per cent 1988 Event U.S. accept immigration of 30,000 U.S. - Vietnamese children 1986 Event Reagan signs landmark immigration reform bill 1986 Event U.S. Senate approved immigration bill prohibiting hiring of illegal aliens and offered amnesty to illegals who entered prior to 1982 1983 Event Senate revises immigration laws, gives millions of illegal aliens legal status under an amnesty program 1972 Event American Museum of Immigration dedicated 1961 Event Great Britain limits immigration from Commonwealth countries 1954 Event Ellis Island, immigration station in New York Harbor, closed 1950 Event Dutch 1st Chamber accept Laws on immigration 1937 Event German immigration officials with no explanation bar Juan Carlos Zabala (Arg), 1932 Olympic marathon champion, from entering Germany 1929 Event U.S. Immigration law of 1924 in effect 1924 Event President Coolidge signs Immigration law: restricting immigration 1923 Birthday Samuel Selvon, born in Trinidad, author, writer-in-residence, University of Calgary, Canada, wrote 'The Lonely Londoners', focusing on West Indians' immigration to Britain, cultural differences 1921 Event Congress sharply curbs immigration, setting a national quota system 1919 Event U.S. House of Representatives restricts immigration 1917 Event Congress overrides Wilson's veto, curtailing Asian immigration 1915 Event U.S. President Wilson refuses to prohibit immigration of illiterates 1910 Event U.S. forbid immigration to criminals, anarchists, paupers and the sick 1905 Event Part of Angel Island allocated for Immigration Detention Center 1900 Event New Ellis Island Immigration station completed costing $1.5 million 1894 Event Congress creates Bureau of Immigration 1891 Event Office of Superintendent of Immigration (Treasury Department) created 1890 Event Ellis Island, in New York City, opens as a U.S. immigration depot 1890 Event Ellis Island designated as an immigration station 1882 Event Congress passes 1st law restricting immigration 1882 Event Chinese Exclusion Act: U.S. Congress ceases Chinese immigration 1855 Event New York City regains Castle Clinton, to be used for immigration 1819 Event U.S. passed its 1st immigration law
