The Immigration Rights Movement in the Modern Era (approximately 1960s to present) has led to several significant laws and political changes in the United States. Here are some of the key examples:
1. Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: This law abolished the national origins quota system that had been in place since the 1920s and established a new system that prioritized family reunification and skilled workers. It also eliminated racial and ethnic barriers to immigration.
2. Refugee Act of 1980: This law established a formal process for admitting refugees into the United States and created the Office of Refugee Resettlement to provide assistance to refugees once they arrived in the country.
3. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: This policy, established by President Obama in 2012, allowed individuals who were brought to the United States as children and met certain criteria to receive temporary protection from deportation and work authorization. While the program remains controversial and has faced legal challenges, it has provided relief to hundreds of thousands of individuals.
4. Sanctuary cities: Several cities and local governments across the United States have established policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities in order to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. These policies have faced legal challenges, but they remain in place in many jurisdictions.
5. Protests and activism: The Immigration Rights Movement has also led to significant protests and activism, including the massive protests that took place in 2006 in response to proposed immigration reform legislation. These protests helped to bring attention to the issue of immigration and put pressure on lawmakers to take action.
Overall, the Immigration Rights Movement has led to significant changes in immigration policy and has brought attention to the issue of immigration in the United States. While there is still much work to be done to ensure that immigrants are treated fairly and with dignity, the movement has made important strides towards achieving these goals.