Which of the following was a provision of the chinese exclusion act that affected chinese immigrants who were already in the united states?
the act forced chinese immigrants to return to china.
the act prohibited chinese immigrants from becoming american citizens.
the act prohibited chinese immigrants from entering the united states.
the act prohibited chinese immigrants from forming chinatowns.

The Chinese Exclusion Act prohibited Chinese immigrants from entering the United States.

Explanation:

The Chinese Exclusion Act was a US federal law passed on May 6, 1882, following the 1880 revisions of the 1868 Burlingame Treaty. These revisions allowed the federal government to suspend the immigration of Chinese nationals, and Congress took the necessary measures for its rapid implementation. The law remained in force for ten years, before being renewed, and then extended to the Japanese.