Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act was signed into law on May 6, 1882 by President Chester A. Arthur. It was an act of Congress that effectively terminated Chinese immigration for ten years, and prohibited the Chinese from becoming U.S. citizens. All Chinese persons (except travelers, merchants, teachers, students, and those born in the United States) were barred from entering the United States. Additionally, Chinese residents, regardless of how long they legally worked in the United States, were ineligible to become naturalized citizens. The law was repealed by the Magnuson Act in 1943 during World War II. However, until the Immigration Act of 1965, numerous laws continued to have a restrictive impact on Chinese immigration.
For additional information, see: Library of Congress Research Guide on the Chinese Exclusion Act: Primary Documents in American History, and Introducing Chew Heong and Chinese Exclusion: A New Story Map from the Law Library.
[Last reviewed in May of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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