Lately liberals have been in an uproar over the crackdown on illegal immigrants. Thus, they want America to just open its borders to everyone- no questions asked. But the truth is the authorities are supposed to be enforcing America’s immigration laws.
Such enforcement is mentioned in the Constitution, Article I, section 8, clause 4, which says that Congress has the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization.
Soon after the Constitution was ratified, Congress passed the Naturalization Act of 1790, which allowed anyone who had been living in America for a period of two years and been living at their current residence for a year to apply for citizenship.
Then there was the Naturalization Act of 1795 (which increased the residency requirement to five years and mandated a three years notice of intent to apply for citizenship), as well as the Naturalization Act of 1798 (which further increased the residency requirement to fourteen years and increased the notice of intent to apply to five years).
In the late 1800s, many immigrants arrived at Ellis Island to be processed. But before they left their native countries, they had to answer a questionnaire, which is as follows:
- What is your name?
- How old are you?
- Are you male or female?
- Are you married or single?
- What is your occupation?
- Are you able to read and write?
- What country are you from?
- What is your race?
- What is the name and address of a relative from your native country?
- What is your final destination in America?
- Who paid for your passage?
- How much money do you have with you?
- Have you been to America before?
- Are you meeting a relative here in America?
- (If yes): Who?
- Have you been in a prison, almshouse, or institution for the care of the insane?
- Are you a polygamist?
- Are you an anarchist?
- Are you coming to America for a job?
- Where will you work?
- What is the condition of your health?
- Are you deformed or crippled?
- How tall are you?
- What color are your eyes/hair?
- Do you have any identifying marks (scars, birthmarks, tattoos)?
- Who was the first President of America?
- What are the colors of our flag?
- How many stripes are on our flag?
- How many stars are on our flag?
- What is the Fourth of July?
- What is the Constitution?
Such questions and policies were quite reasonable at the time, for the intention was to reject any criminals, extremists, people with contagious diseases, etc.
The same can be said for the crackdown on illegal immigrants.
