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Immigration Act of 1965

Definition

This law abolished earlier quota systems based on national origin and established new immigration policies focused on reuniting immigrant families and attracting skilled labor into the United States.

Analogy

Imagine if your school cafeteria only allowed certain amounts of food from different countries each day - like ten dishes from Italy but only two from India. The Immigration Act is like changing those rules so that what matters isn't where the food comes from but how good it tastes or how much people want it.

Related terms

Quota System: A system that sets limits on how many immigrants from certain countries can enter the U.S each year.

Family-Based Immigration: A type of immigration where eligibility is based on having relatives who are citizens or permanent residents in the destination country.

Skilled Labor Migration: Movement of workers across borders based upon their skills or professional expertise.