Immigration, the movement of people living in one country into another country, is a fundamental aspect of human history, though it was as controversial hundreds of years ago as it is today.

Immigration

Immigration is the movement of people living in one country into another and is a key part of human history. Learn more about the Immigration Act of 1965, tenements and other immigration facts.

Immigration: Definition and Facts | HISTORY

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1843

Discover what happened on January 21 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

January 21

Latin America encompasses Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries, including all of South America as well as Mexico, Central America, and islands of the Caribbean. Latin American history saw colonization by the Spaniards and Portuguese, from the 15th through the 18th century, as well as independence movements in the early 19th century.

Latin American & Caribbean History

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have played vital roles in shaping the nation—from building the Transcontinental Railroad to advocating for labor law changes to fighting in multiple wars. They made these contributions while also facing persistent discrimination and violence throughout U.S. history.

Asian American & Pacific Islander History

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History.com Editors

Discover what happened on April 20 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

April 20

1980

Discover what happened on January 1 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

January 1

In 1942, the U.S. Navy defeated the Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway, a turning point of the war in the Pacific, while in Germany, Nazi officials met to plan the “Final Solution” and Anne Frank’s family went into hiding. As FDR ordered Japanese Americans into wartime incarceration camps, false reports of a Japanese attack set California skies ablaze with anti-aircraft fire in the “Battle of Los Angeles.” Americans supported the war effort with scrap drives and victory gardens.

1942

Across the globe, 1917 brought upheaval. Russians overthrew Czar Nicholas II, then staged a second revolution, putting Vladimir Lenin’s Bolsheviks in power and sparking a civil war. The U.S. and China both declared war on Germany, entering World War I in its fourth year. Puerto Ricans gained U.S. citizenship. And as America’s first-ever female congresswoman took office, the push for women’s suffrage intensified, with increased picketing and the arrest of many activists, followed by jailhouse hunger strikes, force feedings and mistreatment.

1917

Discover what happened on May 7 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

May 7

Discover what happened on January 13 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

January 13

1903

1892

Discover what happened on August 4 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

August 4

Discover what happened on November 12 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

November 12

In 1954, a year of breakthroughs, the first successful polio vaccine rolled out and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled school segregation unconstitutional. In England, Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. Two pop-culture titans, movie star Marilyn Monroe and baseball slugger Joe DiMaggio, tied the knot. And Bill Haley and His Comets released “Rock Around the Clock,” one of the earliest and most successful rock ‘n’ roll records.

1954

1910

Discover what happened on February 5 with HISTORY's summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

Immigration ‑ This Day In History

The first immigrants arrive at Ellis Island

First group of Korean immigrants enter Hawaii

U.S. immigration station Angel Island opens in San Francisco Bay

First Japanese immigrant arrives in the U.S.

U.S. and Mexico sign the Mexican Farm Labor Agreement

This Day in History Video: What Happened on November 12

Immigration Act passed over President Wilson’s veto

Ellis Island closes

Fidel Castro announces Mariel Boatlift, allowing Cubans to emigrate to U.S.