THE WAR BRIDES

1945 – 1948

The War Bride Act, first passed in 1945, facilitated the non-quota immigration by military spouses and fiancées, mostly women from the Philippines, Korea, and Japan. The War Bride Act of 1946 extended the non-quota status to Chinese spouses. Still, the existing restrictive American immigration policies posed major challenges for the war brides, who had to endure alienation and a waiting cultural barrier. Most war brides were required to stay on the military bases or facilities their husbands were stationed. As a result, they were isolated from both Asian and American communities.

Although the War Bride Act ended in 1948, its precedents provided guidance for American policy through later conflicts of the twentieth century and to modern day.