The Scott Act and The Geary Act extended The Chinese Exclusion Act’s power. The Scott Act of 1888 excluded Chinese immigration except for Chinese officials, teachers, students, merchants, or travelers who Americans believed would positively impact society. Chinese laborers who immigrated to the United States before 1882 couldn’t return to the United States if they didn’t have anything of value over $1000, a family member, or debt in the United States.
The Geary Act of 1892 extended the Chinese Exclusion Act for 10 years and required Chinese to register and carry resident permits constantly or risk deportation. Chinese weren’t allowed to bear witness in court and were denied bail. The Geary Act was challenged 6 years later, however upheld by the Supreme Court.
Is it then a crime to be a Chinaman? Shall I be dragged from my bed at midnight because I shall refuse to be photographed? No, I will not be photographed against my will like a criminal. I would be hanged first.”
-Wong Chin Foo, Chinese American Activist
In a message accompanying my approval, on the 1st day of October last, of a bill for the exclusion of Chinese laborers, I laid before Congress full information and all correspondence touching the negotiation of the treaty with China concluded at this capital on the 12th day of March, 1888, and which, having been confirmed by the Senate with certain amendments, was rejected by the Chinese Government. This message contained a recommendation that a sum of money be appropriated as compensation to Chinese subjects who had suffered injuries at the hands of lawless men within our jurisdiction. Such appropriation having been duly made, the fund awaits reception by the Chinese Government. It is sincerely hoped that by the cessation of the influx of this class of Chinese subjects, in accordance with the expressed wish of both Governments, a cause of unkind feeling has been permanently removed."
-President Grover Cleveland
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all laws now in force prohibiting and regulating the coming into this country of Chinese persons and persons of Chinese descent are hereby continued in force for a period of ten years from the passage of this act. "
-The Geary Act of 1892
To preserve its independence, and give security against foreign aggression and encroachment, is the highest duty of every nation, and to attain these ends nearly all other considerations are to be subordinated. It matters not in what form such aggression and encroachment come, whether from the foreign nation acting in its national character, or from vast hordes of its people crowding in upon us. The government, possessing the powers which are to be exercised for protection and security, is clothed with authority to determine the occasion on which the powers shall be called forth; and its determinations, so far as the subjects affected are concerned, are necessarily conclusive upon all its departments and officers. If, therefore, the government of the United States, through its legislative department, considers the presence of foreigners of a different race in this country, who will not assimilate with us, to be dangerous to its peace and security, their exclusion is not to be stayed because at the time there are no actual hostilities with the nation of which the foreigners are subjects.
-Chae Chan Ping Supreme Court Case, May 13, 1889
The Geary Act of 1892 required all persons of Chinese descent, including native-born citizens, to carry photo identification cards proving their lawful presence in the United States. At the time, no other group was required to hold such documents.
-"Angel Island: Gateway to Freedom", Russell Freedman, 2013
The Geary Act not only extended the Chinese Exclusion Act, it required all Chinese US residents to carry a resident permit, barred them from bearing witness in court and prevented them from receiving bail in habeas corpus proceedings. These provisions extended to American born Chinese, deemed citizens by the 14th Amendment and US v. Wong Kim Ark (1894), the US Supreme Court case that ruled that anyone born in the United States was a citizen, even though the Chinese Exclusion Act made foreign born Chinese ineligible.
-"Chinese American Heroes, May 5, 1892: The Geary Act"