The Democratic Controlled Congress and Lyndon Johnson in 1965 ended the Johnson-Reed Act of 1924.

Immigration Act of 1965

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, was a landmark legislation signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, 1965. The act abolished the National Origins Formula, which had been the basis of U.S. immigration policy since the 1920s, and replaced it with a new system that prioritized family reunification, occupational skills, and political refugees.

Key Provisions:

Abolition of National Origins Quotas: The act eliminated the quota system based on national origins, which had favored immigration from Northern and Western Europe and restricted immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Family Reunification: The law established a preference system for immigrants with close relatives already living in the United States, such as spouses, children, and parents. Occupational Skills: The act prioritized immigrants with skills and education that matched labor market needs in the United States.

Political Refugees: The law provided a separate category for refugees fleeing political persecution or war. Annual Visa Caps: The act established an annual ceiling of 290,000 visas, with a maximum of 20,000 visas per country.

Impact: Diversification of Immigration: The Immigration Act of 1965 led to a significant shift in the demographics of U.S. immigration, as people from Asia, Africa, and Latin America began to arrive in greater numbers. Increased Immigration: The act led to a substantial increase in immigration to the United States, with the number of legal immigrants rising from approximately 350,000 in 1965 to over 1 million by the early 1970s.

Changes in U.S. Society: The Immigration Act of 1965 contributed to the diversification of American society, culture, and economy, as new immigrants brought with them different languages, customs, and skills.

Quotes and Remarks:

President Lyndon B. Johnson: “This bill says simply that from this day forth those wishing to immigrate to America shall be admitted on the basis of their skills and their close relationship to those already here… Those who can contribute most to this country–to its growth, to its strength, to its spirit–will be the first that are admitted to this land.”

Senator Philip Hart: “Forty years of testing have proven that the rigid pattern of discrimination has not only produced imbalances that have irritated many nations, but Congress itself, through a long series of enactments forced by the realities of a changing world saw fit to modify this unworkable formula so that today it remains on the books primarily as an expression of gratuitous condescension.”

Sauce: https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1951-2000/Immigration-and-Nationality-Act-of-1965/