Anti-immigration has always been around, even today(to a much lesser extent, of course). With the post-war recession and all those unemployed ex-soldiers and ex-slaves coupled with the racism of the era, immigrants aren't really seen in a positive light, and tend to be portrayed more as job takers.They do know that immigrants are the life blood of the United States, right? Without it, the country wouldn't get its huge population so fast and its cultural diversity that brings in a lot wealth.