<P> Many of the people immigrating to America hailed from Europe, with Eastern Europe and Southern European immigrants being the primary groups . During this time period, eugenic ideals gained broad popularity and made heavy impact on immigration to the United States by way of exclusion of disabled and "morally defective" people . </P> <P> Eugenicists of the late 19th and early 20th century believed reproductive selection should be carried out by the state as a collective decision . For many eugenicists, this was considered a patriotic duty as they held an interest in creating a greater national race . Henry Fairfield Osborn's opening words to the New York Evening Journal in 1911 were, "As a biologist as well as a patriot...," on the subject on advocating for tighter inspections of immigrants of the United States . </P> <P> Eugenic selection occurred on two distinguishable levels: </P> <Ul> <Li> State / Local levels which handles institutionalization and sterilization of those considered defective as well as the education of the public, marriage laws, and social pressures such as fitter family and better baby contests . </Li> <Li> Immigration control, the screening of immigrants for defects, was notably supported by Harry Laughlin, superintendent of the Eugenics Record Office from 1910 to 1939, who stated that this was where the "federal government must cooperate ." </Li> </Ul>

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