2.3 The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

The following is a basic breakdown of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, approved May 6, 1882.

Sec. 1. That starting in 90 days and lasting 10 years that Chinese are no longer allowed to enter the United States.

Sec. 2. That any master of a vessel caught bringing a Chinese laborer from a foreign port or place shall be fined, not exceeding five hundred dollars for each Chinese person found., and be imprisoned for up to a year.

Sec. 3. The previous two sections do not apply to Chinese already living in America or who will enter America in the next 90 days. That the fine does not apply to those who are passing through to another port or who need to seek shelter in distress provided that all Chinese laborers aboard must depart with the ship.

Sec. 4. That any Chinese laborer seeking to leave the United States and come back, provided that they were here before 11/17/1882 or before the end of 90 days shall be reported and provide name, address, etc. to a deputy and shall receive a certificate, which they must show to a deputy upon reentry.

Sec. 5. Any Chinese laborer seeking to leave the United States for any reason by land may request an identification certificate as like to the one mentioned in Sec. 4.

Sec. 6. Any Chinese laborer who is entitled to enter the United States must be issued an identification certificate including name, age, occupation, etc. that must be in either English or with an English translation.

Sec. 7. Any person caught lying about age, etc. or trying to empersonate someone else will be charged with a misdemeanor and can be charged no more than $1,000 and be imprisoned up to five years.

Sec. 8. A master of a vessel must report having any Chinese aboard his vessel, including Chinese officials, and must keep a list of all Chinese passengers.

Sec. 9. Before any passenger of said vessel may land, that a deputy must examine the passenger, comparing their certificate to the list, so that no passenger may land in violation of the law.

Sec. 10. That any vessel who violates these provisions of this act will be forfeited to the United States and shall be liable to seizure and condemnation.

Sec. 11. That anyone who brings in, or aids in the bringing into the United States by vessel, any Chinese person shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be charged up to $1,000 and imprisoned for up to a year.

Sec. 12. No Chinese person shall be admitted to the United States by land unless with the proper certificate. That any caught unlawfully inside the United States will be brought before some judge, justice, of commissioner of court, at the expense of the United States, and removed to the country from whence they came.

Sec 13. This act does not apply to Chinese officers and diplomats along with their body and household servants.

Sec. 14. "That hereafter no State court or court of the United States shall admit Chinese to citizenship and; all laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.”

Sec. 15. “That the words “Chinese laborers,” wherever used in this act, shall be construed to mean both skilled and unskilled laborers and Chinese employed in mining.

Congress renewed the law in 1892, 1902, and 1904.

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