U.S. Immigration Policy and Latin America: In Search of the 'Special Relationship.

Abstract

US immigration policies between 1875-1985 were examined to determine if these policies took into account Latin American concerns and interests. US policy makers are sometimes criticized for claiming that the US has a special relationship with Latin America and then ignoring Latin American concerns when formulating policies. This study undertook to determine if this criticism was valid in regard to immigration policies. The examination revealed that US immigration policies were highly sensitive to Latin American concerns. Prior to 1965 they reflected the special relationship status between the US and Latin American countries and after 1965 the policies reflected the emerging efforts of the US to treat Latin America in a less paternalistic manner. Furthermore the USs reluctance to deal with the issue of illegal immigrants is due in part to the recognition that illegal migration serves as a safety valve for Mexicos potentially explosive unemployment and underemployment problems. Prior to 1875 there were no restrictions on immigration to the US. Between 1875-1921 several pieces of legislation were enacted to prevent the entry of persons with undesirable personality traits e.g. prostitutes criminals and anarchists. In 1882 the 1st racial restrictions were imposed with the passage of legislation to prevent the entry of Chinese immigrants. In 1907 similiar legislation was passed to prevent the entry of persons from Japan. Growing concern over the increased number of southern Europeans entering the country resulted in the passage in 1921 of an immigration law which placed an annual ceiling on the total number of immigrants and established a quota system for each country. Each countrys quota was set at 3% of the total number of persons of that national origin currently residing in the US. All countries in the western hemisphere were exempted from the quota system. Following passage of the 1921 law immigration from Latin America and the Caribbean was encouraged to compensate for labor shortages which resulted from the decline in the number of immigrants of southern European extraction. In 1924 growing concern about the number of black immigrants from the British West Indies led to the passage of legislation requiring immigrants from the British West Indies to enter under Great Britains quota. During the Depression several unsuccessful attempts were made to pass legislation to restrict Mexican immigration and to preserve all available jobs for Americans. Concern over Mexican immigration waned as the economy improved. Labor shortages during the 1940s lead to the creation of special arrangements for the entry of temporary workers from Mexico and the Caribbean. In 1952 amidst much controversy the McCarran Walter immigration law was enacted. The main purpose of the law was to prevent Communists from entering the country. The bill retained the quota system in the eastern hemisphere and the western hemisphere exemption; however it imposed an annual limit of 100 immigrants for each colony in the Caribbean. The clause was bitterly resented and was repealed in 1965. An immigration law passed in 1965 repealed the national origin quota system set an annual ceiling of 170000 immigrants from the eastern hemisphere and for the 1st time imposed a ceiling of 120000 on immigration from the western hemisphere. This change reflected the USs growing reluctance to treat Latin America in a paternalistic manner. The tendency to move away from paternalism was furthered by a 1976 law which imposed a worldwide annual ceiling on immigration and a 20000 limit on all countries. Illegal immigration especially from Mexico is posing serious domestic problems for the US. Despite these difficulties the US continues to demonstrate a reluctance to control the influx of illegal aliens in deference to Mexicos serious economic problems.