He was an advocate for Chinese immigrants

In fact, 50 Chinese sailors participated in the Battle of Manila Bay with the Asiatic Squadron. However, the Navy had not authorized this at the time. As a result, George Dewey requested in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy that the "Chinese Exclusion Act" that was in force at the time be suspended so that these soldiers might enter the country. According to the law, Chinese laborers were not allowed to enter the US to live and work there after the Act was introduced in 1882.

George Dewey noted that the Chinese sailors had been very helpful in the combat and had displayed “courage and energy in the face of an enemy”. He acquired that since he was thousands of miles from the nearest American port, he purchased the merchant marine coal supply ships Nanshan and Zafiro in Hong Kong to ensure that his ships had access to enough coal. He believed that they should be allowed entry into the United States as a form of reward for their service. However, the Congress declined to take up their cause, and Dewey ultimately received no response.