United States yearbook - 1982 (1)

86 Immigration and Naturalization
The 1965 Act thereby gave persons from every country within each hemisphere an equal chance to
immigrate to the United States. After 1968 immigrants were classified as those subject to numerical
limitations of the Eastern Hemisphere and of the Western Hemisphere, and those exempt from numerical
limitations (see table 129). Those exempt include immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and
various classes of special immigrants.
For immigrants subject to numerical limitations, numbers are allocated on a basis of seven preference
categories, four of which provide for reunion of families of U.S. citizens and resident aliens,
two for specified workers needed in the United States, and one for refugees. Numbers not used by
these seven preferences are then available to qualified nonpreference immigrants. From 1968 to
December 1976 preference classifications were applied only to immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere.
Beginning 1977 Western Hemisphere immigrants were also subject to preference and nonpreference
classifications. Effective October 1978 the separate hemisphere limits were abolished in
favor of a worldwide limit of 290,000.
Displaced persons and refugees.—The Displaced Persons Act of 1948 was the first of a
number of special acts passed to provide for the admission of refugees from Communist-dominated
countries, victims of natural calamities, and orphans, without regard to-quotas or the numerical ceilings
specified above.
Status of Cubans.—Effective November 1966, Cubans admitted or paroled (i.e., admitted without
an immigration visa) into the United States after January 1, 1959, and present in the United
States for at least 2 years, may obtain permanent resident status. A court decision in September
1976 exempted Cuban refugees from numerical limitations, retroactive to 1968.
Status of Indochinese.—Effective October 28,1977, refugees from Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia
were eligible to apply for permanent resident status. Public Law 95-145 provided that Indochinese
paroled into the United States after March 31, 1975, or physically present on that date, may
become permanent residents after living for at least 2 years in the United States.
Allen registration.—All aliens in the United States on January 1 must report their current address
each year to the U.S. Attorney General during January.
Most aliens acquire U.S. citizenship under the general provisions of the Immigration and Nationality
Act of 1952, as amended. As specified by that Act, the requirements a prospective citizen must
meet relate to residency, language proficiency, moral character, loyalty to the United States, attachment
to the principles of the Constitution, etc. Spouses and children of U.S. citizens can be naturalized
under less stringent conditions. In certain cases, an administrative, judicial, legislative, or executive
waiver of the requirements may be obtained. Naturalization statistics are also maintained by
INS.
Historical statistics.—Tabular headnotes provide cross-references, where applicable, to H isto rical
Statistics o f the U nited States, C olonial Times to 1970. See Appendix I.
No. 128. Immigration: 1820 TO 1979
[In thousands, except rate. Through 1976, for years ending June 30, except as noted; beginning 1977, ending Sept. 30. For
definition of immigrants, see text, pp. 85-86. For 1820-1867, alien passengers arriving; 1868-1891 and 1895-1897, Immigrants
arriving; 1892-1894 and 1698 to the present, immigrants admitted. Rates based on Bureau of the Census estimates as of July
1 for resident population through 1929, and for total population thereafter (excluding Alaska and Hawaii prior to 1959). See
also H is to ric a l S ta tis tic s , C o lo n ia l T im e s to 1 97 0, series C 89]
PERIOD
TOTAL
Rato1
PERIOD OR YEAR
TOTAL
Rate*
YEAR
Number
Number
Number
TOTAL
Rate1
1820-1979................ 49,124 3.5
1820-18301.................... 152 1.2
1831-1840’ 599 3.9
1841-1850*..................... 1,713 8.4
1851-18604 2,698 9.3
1861-1870* 2,315 6.4
1871-1880 2,812 6.2
1881-1890 5,247 9.2
1891-1000 3,688 5.3
1901-1910 8,795 10.4
1911-1920
1921-1930
1931-1940
1941-1950
1951-1960
1961-1970
1971-1979
1965.........
1966 .....................
1967 .....................
1968 .....................
5,736 5.7 1969............................... 369 1.8
4,107 3.5 1970............................... 373 1.8
528 .4 1971.............................. 370 1.8
1,035 .7 1972.............................. 385 1.8
2,515 1.5 1973.............................. 400 1.9
3,322 1.7 1974............................... 395 1.9
3,962 2.1 1975............................... 386 1.0
297 1.5 1976............................... 399 19
323 1.6 1977...............................
362 1.8 1978............................... 601 2.8
454 2.3 1979.............................. 460 2.1
■Annual rate per 1,000 U.S. population, 10-year rate computed by dividing sum of annual immigration totals by sum of annual
U.S. population totals for same 10 years. *OcL 1, 1819-Sept. 30, 1830. 3Oct. 1, 1830-Dec. 31, 1840. 'Calendar
years. “Jan. 1,1861-June 30,1870.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Sendee, A n n u a l R e po rt, and releases.