Fluid Frontiers and Uncertain Geographies: US Controls on Immigration From the Pacific, c. 1880−1950

• Published in: The Journal of Pacific history 2021-07, Vol.56 (3), p.236-257
• Main Author: Bennett, Judith A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: blood quantum; Blood quantum (United States law); Boundaries; Cold War; Emigration and immigration law; Immigrants; Immigration; immigration law; Law and legislation; Legal status, laws, etc; Lobbying; Maori (New Zealand people); Marriage; Migrants; Mobility; Naturalization; Race; Relaxation; Servicemen; War brides; Western Hemisphere; Women; World War II
• ISSN: 0022-3344; 1469-9605; 1469-9605
• DOI: 10.1080/00223344.2017.1406319

US policies of immigrant exclusion evolved from the so-called Asiatic barred zone of 1917 to the Asian 'triangle', but also included people of the Island Pacific. In the latter case, the test for eligibility to enter the United States (US) as a potential citizen was race based. World War II induced pressures by US citizens in the occupying armed forces for marriage to both Asian and Pacific Island women. Internal lobbying in the US plus diplomatic expediency resulted in some post-war relaxation of the ban on Asian immigration via marriage. In New Zealand there was at least one challenge to the extent of the Pacific boundary of the Western Hemisphere wherein greater mobility of migrants was acceptable to the US government. Political Cold War pressure, more than geographic boundaries, proved eventually more potent for potential immigration via marriage but this was too late for most Pacific partners of US servicemen.