Immigration and Nationality Act

Immigration and Nationality Act is a federal law that governs immigration to the United States, naturalization, and citizenship in the United States. The law was enacted by the United States Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, 1965, as part of the Great Society program, which also included the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law abolished the National Origins Formula, which had been in place since the Immigration Act of 1924, and introduced a more inclusive system for immigration to the United States. The law has been amended several times, including by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.

Introduction

The Immigration and Nationality Act was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Emanuel Celler of New York and in the United States Senate by Senator Philip Hart of Michigan. The law was supported by President John F. Kennedy, who had called for immigration reform in his book A Nation of Immigrants, and by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed the law into effect. The law was also supported by Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and other civil rights leaders, who saw it as a step towards greater equality and justice for immigrants and minority groups. The law has been influenced by various Supreme Court of the United States decisions, including United States v. Wong Kim Ark and Plyler v. Doe, and has been shaped by the work of organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center.

History

The Immigration and Nationality Act has its roots in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was the first federal law to restrict immigration to the United States. The law was followed by the Immigration Act of 1917, which introduced the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, and the Immigration Act of 1924, which established the National Origins Formula. The National Origins Formula was based on the 1920 United States Census and gave preference to immigrants from Northern Europe and Western Europe. The formula was criticized for being discriminatory and was eventually abolished by the Immigration and Nationality Act. The law has been influenced by various historical events, including World War I, World War II, and the Cold War, and has been shaped by the work of individuals such as Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman.

Provisions

The Immigration and Nationality Act introduced a number of significant provisions, including the abolition of the National Origins Formula and the introduction of a preference system for immigrants. The law established seven preferences for immigrants, including family reunification, skilled workers, and refugees. The law also introduced a ceiling on the number of immigrants who could enter the United States each year, which was set at 170,000. The law has been influenced by various federal agencies, including the United States Department of State, the United States Department of Labor, and the United States Department of Homeland Security, and has been shaped by the work of organizations such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

Amendments

The Immigration and Nationality Act has been amended several times since its enactment in 1965. One of the most significant amendments was the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. The law introduced employer sanctions for hiring undocumented immigrants and provided amnesty to certain undocumented immigrants who had been living in the United States since 1982. The law also increased the ceiling on the number of immigrants who could enter the United States each year. Other significant amendments include the Immigration Act of 1990, which introduced the diversity visa program, and the USA PATRIOT Act, which expanded the authority of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute immigration-related crimes. The law has been influenced by various congressional committees, including the United States House Committee on the Judiciary and the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

Impact

The Immigration and Nationality Act has had a significant impact on immigration to the United States and demographics of the United States. The law has led to an increase in immigration from Asia and Latin America and a decrease in immigration from Europe. The law has also led to an increase in family reunification and refugee resettlement. The law has been influenced by various social movements, including the civil rights movement and the feminist movement, and has been shaped by the work of individuals such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, and Gloria Anzaldua. The law has also been influenced by various economic factors, including globalization and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Enforcement

The Immigration and Nationality Act is enforced by various federal agencies, including the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of State, and the United States Department of Labor. The law is also enforced by state and local law enforcement agencies, which have the authority to investigate and prosecute immigration-related crimes. The law has been influenced by various court decisions, including United States v. Arizona and Texas v. United States, and has been shaped by the work of organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center. The law has also been influenced by various international agreements, including the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Category:United States federal immigration and nationality legislation