American Immigration Timeline..................................................8

Jane would have not only been a woman who spent her youngest years in a country at war, but also would be experiencing the upheaval of her country throughout her teenage years and now as a young woman watching from afar.

Philippines

The Philippines came out of hundreds of years of colonization by Spain at the turn of the 20th century through assistance with their revolution from the U.S., but the United States had other plans for the island nation. The Philippines became a U.S. territory after conflict between the U.S. and Philippine independence forces after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. The U.S. allowed numerous autonomous governing bodies and policies, but still maintained control. In the 1930s, several bills were passed by Congress that attempted to set a timeline and specifications for Philippine independence. A commonwealth was established in 1935.

During World War II, Japan launched an intense assault on the Philippines, leading to a U.S. and Philippine surrender in May 1942. Japan took over the U.S.’s role in the Philippine government and put in place leaders who were part of the Japanese regime. During the aggression from Japan and subsequent Japanese rule, guerilla opposition groups formed. The U.S. pushed back Japan in October of 1944 and the commonwealth was restored in name, if not in practice. In 1946, the Republic of the Philippines was established. Post-War Philippines faced rebuilding from massive wartime destruction, A communist rebellion and some political unrest followed the war, but later in the 1950s and early 60s, dissent was often channeled into protest, political action, and the electoral process. In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected President of the Republic. His administration faced extreme economic problems, which were exacerbated by its own corruption, tax evasion, and smuggling. Marcos was reelected in 1969. As Marcos neared the end of his constitutionally limited eight-year presidency, he pushed for a change to a parliamentary government so he could remain in power.

In September of 1972, Marcos declared martial law, claiming that it was the only defense against the alleged threats of a communist insurgency, the Muslim separatist movement, and increasingly violent student protests. He used the unchecked power to arrest opposition politicians, prohibit labor strikes, reduce violent urban crime, collect unregistered firearms, launch a land-reform program, and suppress some communist insurgencies. Marcos also proclaimed the passage of a new constitution which seated him as president and prime minister, installing him as a de facto dictator in January 1973.

This is the political world of her home country Luna reflects on in the play.

Front page of the Philippines Daily Express after Marcos declared martial law. Photo credit: Wikipedia.

People protesting the Muslim travel ban gather at O’Hare International Airport on Jan. 28, 2017. Photo credit: Hillary Bachelder.

The passage of the Homeland Security Act establishes the Department of Homeland Security.

2012

President Obama signs Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) which shields some Dreamers from deportation, but does not provide a path to citizenship.

2014

President Obama signs an executive order expanding the rights of DACA to some parents of Dreamers as well.

2018

In April, travel restrictions on Chad are lifted. In June, the Supreme Court upholds the third version of the travel bans on the remaining seven countries.

2019

The Trump administration passes a Public Charge Final Rule, indicating that a “noncitizen who is deemed likely to become a ‘public charge,’ meaning that they are likely to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, can be denied admission or lawful permanent residence (known colloquially as a green card).”

2020 - 2022

The Biden administration works to reverse some of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, with plans to increase refugee admission, preserve deportation relief, expand Temporary Protected Status, and not enforce the “public charge” rule. The restrictions on visa numbers are also lifted.

2004

Congress passes the H-1B Visa Reform Act, allowing for expanded visa availability for “high-skilled” temporary workers with degrees from American universities.

2013

The “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill is proposed, passes the Senate, but dies in the House. If passed, this bill would have huge impacts on immigration reform and the U.S. economy.

2017

President Trump signs two executive orders to curtail travel and immigration from six majority-Muslim countries as well as North Korea and Venezuela. Both of these orders are challenged in various state and federal courts. The Trump administration also seeks to halt DACA.

2020

In response to the pandemic, the Trump administration drastically reduces visas, both immigrant and nonimmigrant. During Trump’s tenure, visas for refugees are also drastically reduced.