A Study on the Interaction Between U.S. Immigration Policies and Italian Americans
Abstract
The United States, as an important immigrant country, was one of the most significant destinations in the wave of immigration in the early 19th century and witnessed numerous complex interactions between government policy and the immigrant community. This paper mainly focuses on the relationship of Italian immigrants and U.S. policies, showing how political decisions and societal attitudes affect the Italian American community, and are simultaneously reshaped by Italian immigration. The study focuses on using the historical document and case analysis to trace the development from the late 19th century to the early 20th century Italian immigration in the United States. The discoveries reveal that the Immigration Acts have hindered the mobility of Italian immigrations, and the Emergency Quota Act brought assimilative pressure to the Italian American community, while Italian Americans play a crucial role in influencing the policy changes by community organizing, political participation, and so on. The study proves the bidirectional relationship between immigration communities and political policies, providing experience and lessons for contemporary Latino and Asian immigrants.
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