The U.S. Congress adopted a landmark immigration law, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act), which abolished national origins quotas and established a preference system for family reunification and skilled workers, significantly changing immigration patterns by prioritizing family and skills over national origin. Major subsequent laws included the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 (addressing unauthorized immigration with legalization and employer sanctions) and the Immigration Act of 1990, which further expanded legal immigration channels.
Key Immigration Laws After 1960:
Immigration
and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act):
When: Passed
by Congress in September 1965 and signed October 3, 1965.
What: Eliminated
the discriminatory national origins system from the 1920s and established a new
preference system based on family ties and job skills.
Impact: Shifted immigration flows from Europe towards Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Refugee
Act of 1980:
When: 1980.
What: Created a comprehensive framework for refugee admissions, moving away from special legislation for specific refugee groups (like Indochinese refugees).
Immigration Reform and
Control Act (IRCA) of 1986:
When: 1986.
What: Granted legal status (amnesty) to millions of undocumented immigrants and imposed employer sanctions for hiring unauthorized workers.
Immigration
Act of 1990:
When: 1990.
What: Further overhauled policy, increasing overall immigration levels and creating new employment-based visas, building on the 1965 framework.
Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996:
When: 1996.
What: Focused on border enforcement and restrictions on legal and illegal immigration.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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