What was a significant outcome of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965?

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a significant shift in U.S. immigration policy by abolishing the national origins quota system that had been in place since the 1920s. This prior system had favored immigrants from northern and western Europe while severely restricting those from other parts of the world, particularly Asia and Africa. By eliminating these racial quotas, the Act opened the doors to increased immigration from diverse regions, allowing individuals from previously underrepresented countries to immigrate to the United States more easily.

This legislation reflected the changing attitudes in America regarding immigration and race, aligning with the civil rights movement, which sought to dismantle institutional racism and promote equality. The result was a notable increase in immigration from Latin America, Asia, and Africa, contributing to the multicultural landscape of the United States that we see today. The act did not establish stricter border control, nor did it directly provide citizenship for existing immigrants, nor did it generally increase immigration from Europe; instead, it broadened and diversified the immigration process overall.