Final answer:
Immigrants in the 1920s faced discrimination through legislation like the Immigration Act of 1924, which established a quota system limiting immigration from southern and eastern Europe, informed by nativist prejudices.
Step-by-step explanation:
One way immigrants were targeted and discriminated against in the 1920s was through the enactment of anti-immigration legislation, such as the Immigration Act of 1924. This law exemplifies the influence of nativism on America's immigration policy and was designed to maintain America's existing ethnic composition. By establishing a quota system based on the ethnic makeup of the U.S. in 1890, before the arrival of many Jews and Catholics from southern and eastern Europe, the act severely limited immigration from these regions and revealed prevalent discriminatory attitudes.
The prejudices against these newer immigrant groups, arising from differences such as skin tone, language, and religion, were further exacerbated by economic challenges, leading to the scapegoating of immigrants for various societal problems. Additionally, these discriminatory attitudes were fueled by organizations like the American Protective Association, which promoted legislation to curb immigration and painted immigrants from certain regions as threats to the moral fabric of society.