In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress. This act prevented exiled Chinese workers from arriving in the United States. This was the first time a specific ethnicity was barred from immigrating to the United States. Racism against the Chinese was strong, so the ban remained for ten years, but was eventually made "permanent". However, China quickly became an ally during World War II, so the ban was repealed in 1943. Many issues related to immigration and racism continue to plague the United States today. For example, many people still have prejudices against immigrant groups. Mexicans often face discrimination. In this essay, I will use internet resources, classroom materials, my knowledge of social studies, and current events to write an essay comparing the Chinese Exclusion Act to illegal immigration to the United States. The test will follow. Chinese workers have not always been looked down upon and unwanted in the United States. In fact, from the 1850s until the early 1870s, Chinese workers were accepted and very useful to the state of California. The more fruits and vegetables Californians wanted, the more the Chinese grew and picked them. A growing population in California also demanded more laundromats, more restaurants, more buildings, and more railroads. The Chinese built and supplied all of this. Additionally, the Chinese worked for such low wages that the prices of things were cheaper than if white Americans provided those services. However, America, particularly California, soon fell on hard times. The Chinese were used as scapegoats at this time. It all seemed to be their fault. Just as Hitler blamed a minority for Germany's economic crisis and the loss of World War I, the United States was in the middle of paper...... As you can see, the Chinese Exclusion Act (and the rest of the subsequent acts regarding Chinese immigration) is very similar to what is happening here with the Mexicans. All kinds of discrimination against Mexicans (even the legal ones) is what the Chinese had to put up with all the time. The Chinese Exclusion Act has many points in common with illegal immigration and with immigration in general. Mexicans and Chinese (back when workers were illegal) were constantly smuggled or smuggled into the United States. Even though they were legal, they were often discriminated against. Although our government and people have changed a lot over the years, in some ways they are still the same. I hope you feel the same way I do when I say that illegal immigration in the United States is very similar to what happened here to the Chinese over a hundred years ago..