The Guarded Gate

The Guarded Gate tells the story of the scientists who argued that certain nationalities were inherently inferior, providing the intellectual justification for the restrictive immigration law of the 1920s.

The book explores the anti-immigrant campaign launched by Boston Brahmins, the role of eugenics in shaping American immigration policy, and its implications for current discussions on immigration.

Okrent brings to life a rich cast of characters, including Henry Cabot Lodge, Theodore Roosevelt, Francis Galton, and Margaret Sanger, among others.