The Johnson-Reed Act of 1924 was the first major immigration law establishing ethnic quotas designed to prevent migration from culturally 'unassimilable' regions and slow population growth from foreign groups, was celebrated by major newspapers (New York Times, LA Times) as preserving 'an America we feel comfortable with,' remained law until 1965, and harmed Jews fleeing Nazi Germany and the Holocaust.

factualpending

Speaker

Stephen Hahn

Evidence Quote

the 1924 immigration act was organized...to undercut the migration of people from certain parts of the world who were regarded as culturally unassimilable...it was celebrated...'Yeah, this was the way in which we could preserve uh an America that we feel comfortable with.'...a uh law that was enforced until 1965.

Source

The Very American Roots of Trumpism | The Ezra Klein ShowThe Ezra Klein Show
Created: 8/11/2026, 7:04:01 AM

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