Immigration Act of 1924

Explanation and Analysis of the Document

Written in dense legislative language, the excerpts from the Immigration Act of 1924 begin by outlining procedures for the issuance of immigration visas at foreign consular offices. The act also specifies the conditions under which such a visa expires—or does not expire in the case of an immigrant traveling by ship when the ship arrives in the United States after the visa has technically expired. A key provision of section 2 states that “no immigration visa shall be issued to an immigrant if it appears to the consular officer, from statements in the application, or in the papers submitted therewith, that the immigrant is inadmissible to the United States under the immigration laws.” Inadmissibility was determined in large part by the potential immigrant's country of origin. Section 3 defines “immigrant,” with emphasis on those persons who would not be considered immigrants under the provisions of the act.

Section 4 defines “non-quota immigrants,” referring to the quota system described earlier. This section lists those persons who would not be subject to the quota system, including wives and children of citizens, previous immigrants returning from a visit abroad, immigrants from Western Hemisphere countries, ministers, and students. Section 13 specifies those who would be excluded from the United States. Again, the emphasis is on exceptions to the rules. A key provision, however, is (e), which states that “no quota immigrant shall be admitted under subdivision (d) if the entire number of immigration visas which may be issued to quota immigrants of the same nationality for the fiscal year has already been issued.” Again, the 1924 law was structured around the establishment of quotas that restricted immigration. In 1921 some 805,000 immigrants were admitted; in 1925 the number was 294,000.