the immigration act of 1917 (also called the literacy act and the asiatic barred zone act) was a united states law to stop certain types of people from moving to the us to live. it was the first law to try and restrict immigration, rather than try to control it. people wanting to immigrate had to pass literacy tests. the law also created new categories of people who would not be allowed to immigrate. people from much of asia were prevented from immigrating.