Explore histories of migration, citizenship and belonging in Germany and the U.S. over the centuries.
1965
Civil Rights Lead to Modern Immigration System
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, ended the national origins quota system in place since the 1920s. It introduced a preference-based immigration model focused on skilled labor and family reunification. The Civil Rights Movement's influence, advocating equality, helped discredit the discriminatory national origins system. As a result, the 1965 Act increased annual immigration quotas from 150,000 to 290,000, with 170,000 visas for the Eastern Hemisphere and 120,000 for the Western Hemisphere. This change led to diverse migration from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe, transforming U.S. immigration patterns.
