Behind America's First Comprehensive Federal Immigration Law.

The article focuses on the 1924 Immigration Restriction Act, highlighting its origins and lasting impact on U.S. immigration policy. The law, architected by Washington State Congressman Albert Johnson, institutionalized racial exclusion by barring nearly all Asians and severely limiting immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe, reflecting white supremacist and nativist ideologies prevalent at the time. It established foundational elements of the modern immigration system, including visa requirements, the Border Patrol, and the category of "illegal alien," with profound consequences for immigrant communities, especially Jews and Asians. The article also traces local effects in Washington State, including ongoing immigrant detention and activism aimed at addressing the law’s enduring legacy of xenophobia and exclusion.