Immigration Act

The Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished the national-origins quota system that had characterized U.S. immigration policy for decades. This landmark legislation, effective June 30, 1968, prohibited discrimination in immigration based on race, sex, or nationality. Instead, new criteria focused on kinship ties, refugee status, and needed skills.1

This shift dramatically altered immigration patterns. Previously, European immigrants dominated. After 1965, non-Europeans, particularly from Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, became the dominant immigrant groups. For example, Indian immigration saw a significant increase following the act's passage. The act also established annual ceilings for immigrant visas, initially with different limits for nations outside the Western Hemisphere and those within it.12