The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the powers to define who is a citizen and to regulate who can reside in the country. Congress’s exercise of these powers throughout American history has been affected by the beliefs and attitudes as well as the politics and economics of the times. This book traces the evolution of immigration law from early America to today’s post-9/11 era. Well-researched, balanced text shows legislation and court decisions at their best and worst, covering periods of exclusion and times of greater openness. Evocative photos and political cartoons illuminate the heated debates and human realities of earlier eras and today.