Introduction
The following timeline will take you through a very brief overview of the history of immigration in the United States. To fully understand the nature and functioning of xenophobia and racism now, it is helpful review some of the significant historical events including both oppressive policies and points of progressive change in regard to immigration. However, you are cautioned to remember this is a very brief history only meant to provide some introductory context. There are many other events, laws, people, issues, triumphs, and troubles that may have been included here. Lack of inclusion does not suggest lack of significance. This presentation instead allows you a glimpse into where you might continue your learning or where the historical roots may be for the current issues we face today.
With the exception of those whose ancestry is entirely from the indigenous population of the United States, we are all immigrants to the country we now call the United States. However, from its inception, the immigration policies of this country have often marginalized people of color, failed to support new
immigrants in general and people of color in particular, and reinforced a false reality of “American” being equated with “white.”