1875–1912 -- The first period of Arab immigration to the United States. Most of the immigrants are Christians from rural areas of present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories and Israel. The first Arabic newspaper is established in New York in 1892. Increasing number of Muslims arrive in the United States between 1947 and 1960, many from beyond the Middle East. With the passage of the 1965 Immigration Act, which abolishes national quotas, Muslim immigration from the Middle East and Asia grows significantly. (Library of Congress)