Brief history of immigration policy: Revolution to Republic

Just for fun.
One of the indictments brought against George III in the Declaration of Independence:

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

George III was inhibiting immigration - and this was viewed as a BAD THING!

Twenty (20) years later? The Alien Acts!

Naturalization Act of 1798

The Naturalization Act, passed by Congress on June 18, 1798, increased the amount of time necessary for immigrants to become naturalized citizens in the United States from five to fourteen years. Although it was passed under the guise of protecting national security, most historians conclude it was really intended to decrease the number of voters who disagreed with the Federalist political party. At the time, most immigrants (namely Irish and French) supported Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans, the political opponents of the Federalists. This act was repealed in 1802.

followed by An Act Concerning Aliens:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall be lawful for the President of the United States at any time during the continuance of this act, to order all such aliens as he shall judge dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States, or shall have reasonable grounds to suspect are concerned in any treasonable or secret machinations against the government thereof, to depart out of the territory of the United States, within such time as shall be expressed in such order, which order shall be served on such alien by delivering him a copy thereof, or leaving his usual abode, and returned to the office of the Secretary of State, by the marshal or other person to whom the same shall be directed.
[note: that's ONE sentence!]

The Federalists were terrified of the masses rising up to assert their republican rights, as embodied in the Declaration of Independence.

John Adams, Alexander Hamilton: they trusted not the mob!
The example of the French Revolution, with its republican excesses (aka, The Terror), convinced 'em that French sympathizers - including the nascent Republicans (led by Jefferson & Madison) - would destroy our young Republic.

We've been here before... in fact, we started out here: Xenophobia is not new to our American republic.
Neither is the Tea Party!

We've survived so far.