Recent debates over immigration have given rise to a complex spectrum of opinions, attitudes, and emotions. In fact, these debates have been a hallmark of the American nation since its earliest days. In United States Immigration, 1800-1965 James Pula provides a selection of primary documents that illuminate immigration as one of the defining features of the American social, cultural, and political landscape.

A wide array of primary sources is included: documents written by immigrants that describe their own experiences; examples of pro- and anti-immigration arguments; and government documents, including immigration laws and federal court rulings on issues related to immigration and immigrant rights. In all, 71 documents (including 20 images) help to tell the story of United States immigration from roughly 1800 through to the Hart-Celler Act of 1965.