Fact check: What did Irish and Italians had to do to earn a green card

1. Summary of the results

The question about Irish and Italian green card requirements needs important historical context. Neither group needed to "earn" green cards in the traditional sense during their major immigration waves. However, when immigration laws changed in 1965, both groups faced new challenges, leading to the creation of the diversity visa lottery in 1986 specifically designed to benefit Irish and Italian immigrants, with 40% of visas initially reserved for Ireland ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original question:

• Irish immigrants faced significant discrimination and social barriers, including "No Irish Need Apply" signs, and were forced into menial jobs ^[2].
• However, Irish immigrants maintained a crucial legal advantage: they were classified as "white," which gave them access to social institutions, schools, unions, and marriage rights that were denied to other racial groups ^[3].
• Economic hardships in Italy were a primary driver of Italian immigration ^[4].
• The "diversity visa lottery" program, despite its name, was actually created specifically to address Irish and Italian immigration challenges, not to promote broader diversity ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains several problematic assumptions:

• It implies that these groups had to "earn" their status through specific actions, when in reality, their path to citizenship was largely influenced by:

Their classification as "white" in the American racial hierarchy ^[3]

Specific legislative actions designed to benefit them, such as the diversity visa lottery ^[1]

• It overlooks the complex social and economic factors that shaped their immigration experience, including:

Economic conditions in their home countries ^[4]

Discrimination and social barriers in America ^[2]

• The broader context of changing immigration laws and policies ^[1]

This history demonstrates how immigration policies have often been shaped by racial and ethnic preferences rather than merit-based criteria alone.