On October 3, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a major amendment to U.S. immigration law at Liberty Island in New York Harbor. 5 Often called the Hart–Celler Act or the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the law dismantled the national-origins quota system and established a different framework for selecting immigrants. 1
It was a turning point in immigration history. It was not an abolition of immigration limits, and it did not create an automatic right to immigrate for everyone with a family connection in the United States.
What was the national-origins quota system?
Earlier twentieth-century laws restricted immigration using quotas tied to national origin. The Immigration Act of 1924 assigned quotas using the representation of nationalities in an earlier U.S. census, favoring some origins over others. The period’s laws also imposed severe restrictions on immigration from Asia. 2
These rules were not simply neutral waiting lists. National origin was a central part of how the law allocated opportunities to immigrate.
The system evolved through later legislation, but national-origins quotas remained a major feature before the 1965 changes. Understanding that background helps explain why the new law was historically significant. 12
What did the 1965 law change?
The law moved away from the national-origins quota system toward preferences emphasizing family relationships and certain occupational qualifications. It retained numerical restrictions and created a framework that continued to distinguish among categories of applicants. 1
That distinction matters. Ending a discriminatory selection system was not the same as removing every limit on immigration. Family relationships, categories, and numerical rules still shaped who could immigrate and when.
The change was phased in: the statute provided for the national quotas and immigration pool to terminate on June 30, 1968. It also stated that immigrant-visa issuance should not discriminate on specified grounds, including race and national origin, subject to the law’s stated exceptions. 1
Why is this history relevant to families today?
Terms such as “family petition” and “preference category” reflect a legal system with a history. Families often encounter those terms while trying to understand why a relationship can support a petition but does not necessarily mean a visa is immediately available.
The historical framework can make that distinction easier to understand. However, a description of the 1965 law cannot tell you which category applies today, what the current waiting period is, or whether a particular person qualifies. Later legislation and current rules matter too.
For present-day information, use USCIS’s family immigration resources and the State Department’s Visa Bulletin rather than relying on historical summaries. 34
Three misconceptions to avoid
“The 1965 law opened immigration without limits.” It changed the selection framework while retaining limits and categories. 1
“A law signed in 1965 explains every current requirement.” Immigration law has continued to change. Current instructions and applicable law govern a filing today.
“A family relationship guarantees immediate immigration.” A qualifying relationship, a petition, visa availability, and eligibility for the next step are distinct issues. Current government resources explain those distinctions. 34
Connecting history with practical questions
At Immigrant Resource Center, our family petition paperwork services focus on preparing and organizing documents at your direction. Learning the history can provide context; questions about your legal eligibility require an immigration attorney or accredited representative.
Sources and further reading
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GovInfo: Public Law 89-236, October 3, 1965 (original statute, PDF)
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The American Presidency Project: Johnson’s signing remarks, October 3, 1965
This is a historical overview, not advice about eligibility under current law.
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