Both Prof Wu and Ms Truong cited the 1875 Page Act, one of the earliest pieces of federal law restricting immigration to the US. On paper, the legislation barred the entry of any woman from China, Japan "or any Oriental country" for "lewd and immoral purposes", including prostitution.In reality, the law blocked virtually all immigration from Asian women, who were collectively presumed to be sex workers or prostitutes.This racist and sexist stereotype that they "were bringing their immorality to the US", Ms Truong explains, has lingered.