What did the Chinese exclusion act of 1882 prevent the Chinese from doing what?

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 prevented Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States and prohibited those already in the country from becoming U.S. citizens. It was the first significant law restricting Immigration based on ethnicity and nationality, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment at the time. The act effectively halted Chinese immigration for decades and laid the groundwork for further restrictive immigration policies.