*nod*
The first real restrictions on immigration didn't come about til 1921, Border Patrol didn't show up til '26 and alien registration didn't come about til 1940.
The "fundamental and traditional" Immigration and Naturalization Act? 1952.
My immigrant ancestors merely showed up at Ellis Island in 1908. Oma Lillian and Opa Georg signed their names in a book, and that was that. "Hey there, welcome to America!" No visa, no passport, not even registration. They were here on Lady Liberty's "fundamental and traditional" invitation.
It never ceases to amaze me to find people who think the current situation is the way it has always been.
Kind of reminds me of the "TÜRKEN RAUS!" people when I lived in Germany in the late '80's. They HATED acknowledging that there were Ausländer Hilfe offices (literally, Foreigner Help) meant specifically to help aliens become legal and not starve to death while they were trying to do so.

