The Chinese Exclusion Act (1882-1943) was the first major law restricting immigration to the United States. It was enacted in response to economic fears, especially on the West Coast, where native-born Americans attributed unemployment and declining wages to Chinese workers whom they also viewed as racially inferior. Chinese in America were legally categorized as “aliens ineligible for citizenship” –perpetual foreigners- and prohibited from becoming citizens. In resistance to this and other anti-Chinese legislation, the Chinese American community readily used the American court system to challenge each injustice. Such human rights cases continue to be cited in American constitutional law.

排华法案》（1882-1943）是美国首个重要移民限制法条。它的执行，主要在回应大众的经济恐慌，特别以西岸为主。本地出生的美国人将失业和减薪归咎于华工，尤其在他们眼中这些华工是种族低下的。美国华人被法律视为“不符公民资格”，是永久的外国人，禁止成为公民。面对《排华法案》和其他不公法条，美国华人社群熟练地运用美国法院体系，对不正义规定一一提出挑战。这一类的人权案件至今持续为美国宪法条例引用。