What role did Harry H. Laughlin play in American eugenics policies?

Harry H. Laughlin was a central figure in the American eugenics movement, serving as the superintendent of the Eugenics Record Office (ERO). His work was instrumental in shaping discriminatory public policies based on the scientifically flawed and ethically reprehensible premise that certain human traits were genetically inferior.1

Laughlin’s influence on American policy was profound in two primary areas:

• Immigration Restriction: Acting as a self-styled "eugenics expert," Laughlin provided biased data to Congress, claiming that immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe were disproportionately represented in institutions for the "feebleminded" and criminal. His testimony was a primary driver behind the Immigration Act of 1924, which severely restricted immigration from these regions to protect what he termed American "good stock".1
• Forced Sterilization: Laughlin authored a model law for the involuntary sterilization of institutionalized individuals. His efforts were highly effective, as more than half of U.S. states adopted his legislation. This campaign led to the forced sterilization of over 30,000 people by 1938 and received judicial validation in the Supreme Court case Buck v. Bell.1