The Cost of America's First Major Immigration Crackdown

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 marked the first major immigration crackdown in the U.S., driven by economic and racial tensions. Chinese immigrants, crucial to building the transcontinental railroad, faced increasing hostility as economic downturns led to scapegoating. The Act and subsequent violence, including mass expulsions and massacres, significantly harmed the U.S. economy, particularly in the West, by reducing labor and economic vibrancy. Recent efforts aim to honor the Chinese victims and educate the public on this dark chapter in American history.