Migration Policy Institute: A Century Later, Restrictive 1924 U.S. Immigration Law Has Reverberations in Immigration Debate

A Century Later, Restrictive 1924 U.S. Immigration Law Has Reverberations in Immigration Debate

By Muzaffar Chishti and Julia Gelatt One hundred years ago this month, the 1924 Immigration Act marked a pivotal moment in U.S. history that dramatically limited immigration for decades. Because of the law, which was based on the racist “science” of eugenics, the United States prioritized immigration from Northern and Western Europe, limiting arrivals from Eastern and Southern Europe and barring virtually all immigration from Asia. A century later, the law's legacy can still be felt in many areas. This article provides an overview of the 1924 Immigration Act and its lingering impact. KJ

READ MORE