American dream.

[mollykins]

when did america stop people emmigrating there? but people after that did it illegally to pursue the american dream?

[heathfield]

The USA still allows immigration. People can apply for a 'Green Card', which permits the holder to have permanent residency.

[mollykins]

But there was a time when they were completely open to imigrants, then they had tighter security or you had to apply for a visa etc, when was that change?

[dr b]

the US has a very long history of screening/rejecting potential immigrants:

http://www.ellisislan...is_island_history.asp

[jno]

There was no cut-off date, but the doors gradually closed during the 20th century. Mexicans still cross the border illegally and try to vanish into the Latino population; Mexico is a poor country.