As a Chinese or an Asian American, why is it important to learn the history of "Chinese Exclusion" and what is the practical value for us today?

In late nineteenth-century America, one-seventh of the population was foreign born. In the city of New York, 80% were immigrants. Many newcomers fled religious or political discrimination, but most just sought a better life.
The relatively few immigrants with money bypassed Ellis Island and easily entered America. The others who went through Ellis Island were often exploited. They did not know English and were underpaid after securing employment. Immigrants usually settled in their own enclaves—such as Little Italy or Chinatown.
The immigrants were abhorred by many Americans. In 1887, the American Protective Association (APA) was established. It thrived in Protestant areas and was anti-Jewish and anti-Buddhist. The APA lobbied the government to restrict immigration.
The Chinese were treated worse than any other immigrant group. They were ill-treated because of their race, religion, and thrift. The Chinese made up one-ninth of California's population in the late-nineteenth century. In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This abhorrent legislation excluded people based on their race and class. Restrictions against Chinese immigration lasted until 1943.
Starting in 1910, Chinese people who arrived to the US were kept in the Angel Island Immigration Station at San Francisco. The conditions were oppressive, and they were kept there for many months before being granted or denied entry. Today's immigrants endure similar conditions and face the added stress of family separation.
Today, other groups—such as Muslims and Central Americans—are being targeted by the government. Present-day efforts to exclude immigrants are still largely supported by conservative groups. I recently read an article by a New York Times journalist of Irish descent, Timothy Egan. In the article, Egan urges other Americans of Irish decent to remember the discrimination endured by their ancestors in the nineteenth century and that we are all Americans.