WRONG!

The US did not established ANY immigration statute until the late 19th century ... and even then it was to keep Chinese out of the US. Prior to that immigration was not restricted whatsoever (although naturalization of foreigners has always been a topic for statute). The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.

This was due to racism - not to keep out the "sick" or those with "physical defects." There was no pretense otherwise. The Chinese were here to work - just like immigrants today. Nor was there was any welfare in the 19th century, just charity wards that withheld aid for any number of reasons, including racial bias - people just died, quite frequently.