In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt enacted a significant immigration measure that reflected the prevailing attitudes towards mental health and disability in the early 20th century. This legislation was part of the broader Immigration Act, which aimed to regulate the flow of newcomers to the United States and safeguard national integrity amid growing concerns about social cohesion and economic stability. The act specifically targeted individuals deemed undesirable, explicitly excluding “idiots, imbeciles, feebleminded persons, epileptics, and insane persons” from entering the country. This discriminatory language underscored the era's limited understanding of mental health and the stigmatization of those perceived as different. The decision to exclude these groups was rooted in a eugenics movement gaining traction at the time, which advocated for the improvement of the human race through selective breeding and the restrictive immigration of certain populations. Roosevelt's administration believed that these measures would protect American society from what they viewed as potential threats to its moral and economic fabric. By categorizing individuals with mental health issues as unfit for admission, the government not only contributed to the marginalization of these individuals but also fostered a societal climate of fear and misunderstanding surrounding mental illness. This act was a reflection of the broader xenophobic and nativist sentiments that dominated American policy in the early 1900s. As immigration restrictions tightened, marginalized groups faced increasing barriers to entry, revealing deep-seated biases prevalent in American society. The ramifications of this legislation continued to resonate throughout the decades, influencing ongoing debates about immigration, disability rights, and the treatment of individuals with mental health disorders in America.