That is not true, not for the first 100+ years at least. Until 1882, if you could afford the ticket to the US, you could come. So, at the time relatively expe

That is not true, not for the first 100+ years at least. Until 1882, if you could afford the ticket to the US, you could come. So, at the time relatively expensive travel costs were the barrier of immigration, but not laws. "The Page Act becomes law. It's the country's first exclusionary act, banning criminals, prostitutes, and Chinese contract laborers from entering the country. 1882. Congress passes the Immigration Act."