Illegal immigration didn't really exist in 1850, nor even a meaningful Federal immigration policy beyond Congress statutorily setting the number of years of residency required to apply for citizenship, and of course limiting it to whites. The borders were open; border checkpoints and ports of entry were years away. People came, worked, and after several years applied for citizenship at the local state court house, attesting to the number of years they'd been here.
Federal immigration policy didn't really get going until the 1870s (notwithstanding some toothless laws passed in the 1860s), and IIRC it wasn't until the 1880s that the Federal government created ports of entry to process immigrants, including creating a system to reject immigrants.
I mention this because I think the ~20 year time lag between the first wave of large scale immigration and immigration becoming a major political issue, including the rise of anti-immigration sentiments and policies, is notable. Not necessarily for anything specific, just that it's interesting how history rhymes.
Federal immigration policy didn't really get going until the 1870s (notwithstanding some toothless laws passed in the 1860s), and IIRC it wasn't until the 1880s that the Federal government created ports of entry to process immigrants, including creating a system to reject immigrants.
I mention this because I think the ~20 year time lag between the first wave of large scale immigration and immigration becoming a major political issue, including the rise of anti-immigration sentiments and policies, is notable. Not necessarily for anything specific, just that it's interesting how history rhymes.