This work investigates the socio-political climate in Britain between 1880 and 1910, specifically focusing on the public and legislative response to the influx of immigrants during this period. John A. Garrard utilizes historical records and parliamentary debates to analyze how xenophobia and economic anxieties shaped British immigration policy. The text provides a detailed examination of the transition from a policy of open borders to the implementation of the Aliens Act of 1905. By situating these events within the broader context of late Victorian and Edwardian society, the author argues that immigration served as a catalyst for significant shifts in political rhetoric and national identity.

Historians frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the origins of British immigration control. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which relies heavily on primary source documentation and parliamentary records.