Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

The Immigration and Naturalization Services Act of 1965 ( also known as the INS Act of 1965, Hart - Celler Act ) was a United States federal law that replaced the hitherto applicable quota system of immigration in 1965 and replaced by the part more liberal provisions.

Background, history and provisions

The INS Act of 1965 dissolved in American immigration law, from the provisions of the Immigration Act of 1924. The law of 1924 had restricted immigration quotas that were set so low that in many countries have been admitted only very small numbers of immigrants in the United States. From China, for example, were only allowed 105 people come every year to the country. Under pressure from the American civil rights movement, the American Legislative finally decided to a revision of the immigration law. The INS Act of 1965 was proposed by Mr Emanuel Celler ( Democrats ) and strongly supported by Senator Edward Kennedy. In the House, the bill was adopted by 326 to 69 votes in the Senate with 76 votes to 18. In both chambers of Congress introduced members of the Democratic Party, the majority of MPs. The law gained on October 3, 1965 signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson legal force.

The INS Act of 1965 provided for different rules for countries of origin in the Western and Eastern Hemisphere. The number of visas for applicants from countries in the Western Hemisphere ( North, Central and South America) was limited to 120,000 per year. The consideration of the applicant was in the order of application ( served basis, first-come, first-served ).

For applicants from countries in the Eastern Hemisphere (Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia) a maximum of 170,000 visas were issued per year, with no country in the eastern hemisphere should receive more than 20,000 visas. In the selection of applicants from the Eastern Hemisphere for the first time was 1965, the family reunification in the foreground. In addition, however, the law also provided a preferential consideration of highly qualified professionals, but also of refugees before.

Laws additions followed in 1976 and 1978 with the 1976 Amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act, the principle of first-come, first-served was replaced by a system of categories for applicants from countries in the Western Hemisphere.; the number of visas was set at a maximum of 20,000 per country per year. In the 1978 Amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act, the number of visas to 290,000 was limited world.

Importance

Although the law immigration for applicants from all countries of the eastern hemisphere simplified - for applicants from other American countries, it generated the first time a formal hurdle - it was a special milestone for migrants from China. Immigration from China was governed radically 1882 with the Chinese Exclusion Act. 1943, with the Magnuson Act, although a revision, due to the continuing quota system of the Immigration Act of 1924 was the number of Chinese who were allowed to enter the United States, however, is limited to 1965 to 105 persons per year. A real opening of the United States for Chinese migrants took place only with the INS Act of 1965.