1907 Immigration Act

1907 Immigration Act

The legislation passed in 1907 updated the 1882 Immigration Act and 1891 Immigration Act. The head tax was increased to $5 and "imbeciles, feeble-minded persons, unaccompanied children under 17 years of age, and persons who are found to be and are certified by the examination surgeon as being mentally or physically defective, such mental or physical defect being of a nature which may affect the ability of such aliens to earn a living" were added to the excluded list. It was originally intended to exclude every male who had not $25 in his possession ($15 for women). However this clause was removed before it was passed by Congress.