1970's to the Present

The Refugees Act of 1980- made it possible for more than 3 million people to resettle and find protection in the United States.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986- it was passed to control and deter illegal immigration to the United States.

The Immigration Act of 1990 allowed 700,000 immigrants per year to enter the US for the next three years and an annual ceiling of 675,000 per year for every year after

Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act- Passed by President Clinton in 1996; addressed border patrol and upgraded border patrol enforcers, equipment, and patrolling process.

Rank	Country	2010	Percentage
1	Mexico	9600000	23.70
2	China	1900000	4.70
3	Philippines	1700000	4.20
4	India	1610000	4.00
5	Vietnam	1200000	3.00
6	Cuba	1100000	2.70
7	El Salvador	1100000	2.70
8	Dominican Republic	941000	2.30
9	Canada	920000	2.30
10	Korea	880000	2.20

Definitions:
Immigrant- someone who comes to this country from another to stay.
Alien- someone who comes to the US temporarily.
Illegal aliens- people who enter the country without permission.
Old Immigrants- came to the United States prior to the Civil War; from Northern and Western Europe.
New Immigrants-came to the United States between 1870 and 1920; most immigrants came from China, Japan, and Southern and Eastern Europe.
Modern Immigrants- have come to the United States since the 1970s; most immigrants came from Southern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin American countries.
Melting Pot- the blending of many cultures in the United States