st important revisions to the immigration laws, however, were passed in 1921 and 1924, imposing an annual quota on the number of persons of each nationality who could enter the U.S., based upon its proportional representation in the U.S. population in 1920. The overall effect of these two Acts was to restrict immigration of southern and eastern Europeans, especially Jews (Baumel, 1990, pp. 10-11).
As the Depression worsened in 1930, many in the government became increasingly concerned that immigrants would overwhelm the U.S. job market, increasing the number of persons who required public assistance. Consequently, President Herbert Hoover demanded that the LPC clause be strictly interpreted by American consuls abroad; this action usurped the role of Congress to a certain extent in setting immigration policy, since it effectively restricted immigration policy outside of the normal legislative process. This policy was enforced until 1937 and resulted in quotas which did not come close to being filled during these years. Jewish immigration from Germany slowed drastically at the very time when the Nazis took over (Baumel, 1990, p. 13).
In spite of the crisis in Europe throughout the 1930s and 1940s, U.S. immigration laws never changed. Even as Americans became aware of Nazi policies towards Jews and the "final solution," no one in the U.S. government felt that there was enough public backing for changes in the laws. The most that anyone ever proposed was a temporary relaxation in quotas in order to admit refugee children from Europe, both Jewish and Gentile. As will be discussed below, many within the government felt that public opinion would not tolerate changing immigration laws, especially for the purpose of admitting Jews. Attempts to admit refugees were met with outright opposition until 1943; none of these proposals were ever enacted up to their full potential or the intentions of their sponsors. Much of the blame for...