Final answer:
Congress responded to the immigration wave in the late 1800s by passing the Emergency Quota Law of 1921, which temporarily restricted immigration and established a quota system. The US government also encouraged diversity by allowing immigration from Western Hemisphere countries to fulfill labor needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Congress responded to the immigration wave in the late 1800s by passing the Emergency Quota Law of 1921, which temporarily restricted immigration to curb competition for jobs. The law established a quota system that limited the number of immigrants from certain nations, particularly those from Southern and Eastern Europe. However, restrictions on immigration did not apply to immigrants from the Western Hemisphere. In addition to these legislative measures, the US government worked to encourage the growing diversity by permitting immigration from Mexico and other Western Hemisphere countries to fulfill the labor needs of farms and industries.