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How does this law end decades of racist immigration policy?
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (also known as the Hart-Celler Act) is an important law in American history, which completely changed the immigration policy of the United States. The law's passage marked the end of decades of racially discriminatory immigration policies, eliminating the immigration quota system based on race and nationality that had dominated U.S. immigration policy since the 1920s. Its passage is not only a change at the legal level, but also represents a cognitive shift in society, namely the pursuit of multiculturalism and equal opportunities.
One of the greatest achievements of the Immigration and Nationality Act was that it ended discrimination based on national origin, eliminating the unfair treatment of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia.
Background
The immigration policy of the United States has been biased towards "white people" since 1790, and restrictions on immigration from other races and ethnicities, especially Asia and Africa, have become the norm. These policies were designed to protect the homogeneity of white American society. With the rise of the civil rights movement, criticism of this unequal policy grew louder and calls for reform intensified. The law was passed in 1965, fueled by social movements and supported by political leaders, led by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
"This old system violates the fundamental principles of American democracy and represents an evaluation of each person based on his or her own merits."
Main Terms
The bill formally eliminates quotas based on nationality and creates a seven-category priority system that prioritizes family reunification and professional skills. Under the law, immigration applications from immediate family members of U.S. citizens, professionals, and refugees will be given priority. The law first introduced a numerical limit of 120,000 immigrants per year from the Western Hemisphere. In addition, the law also recognizes the special status of refugees and provides them with corresponding visa channels.
"This law not only ends an old policy of discrimination, but is also an important step in making America a more diverse country."
The process of passing a law
Prior to 1965, the act went through many ups and downs. The original bill was first drafted by President Kennedy. Although it was resisted by conservatives at the beginning, it was eventually passed with the support of President Johnson. The bill received broad support from all political parties in Congress and was ultimately passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 320:70 and by the Senate with a vote of 76:18.
"Our cities will not be flooded with a million immigrants each year... This bill will not destroy the racial fabric of our country."
Subsequent Impact
The passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act resulted in significant changes in the immigrant population structure of the United States. The passage of the law allowed immigrants from the South and the East to enter the United States more freely, resulting in a gradual increase in the Indian, Asian and Latino populations and changing the ethnic structure of the United States.
"This law laid an important foundation for the future demographic and cultural diversity of the United States."
Legal legacy
Although the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act marked the end of a period of discrimination, discrimination against certain groups continued in the decades that followed. It wasn’t until 1990 that discriminatory provisions against the LGBTQ+ community were withdrawn, showing that there is still a lot of work to be done behind the law to achieve true equality.
Therefore, the Immigration and Nationality Act is not only a reflection and correction of past discriminatory policies, but also a commitment to the future. As American society develops, this law still affects the fate of immigrants and the reunion of every family, and we must also think about where the US immigration policy will develop in the constant changes.
