Nativism, the belief that a nation should be primarily inhabited by its native people, has led to increased restrictions on immigration throughout American history.
- The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which prohibited Chinese workers from entering the United States, was one of the earliest examples of this.
- In the early 20th century, a series of laws known as the Quota Acts restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, as well as from Asia.
- More recently, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 imposed sanctions on employers who hired undocumented immigrants and required all future immigrants to obtain visas.
