history.state.gov- The signing of the 1924 Immigration Act.
llibertyellisfoundation.org- Immigrants first arriving at Ellis Island
nytimes.com- A line of Immigrants at Ellis Island.
“For it does repair a very deep and painful flaw in the fabric of American justice. It corrects a cruel and enduring wrong in the conduct of the American Nation.”-Lyndon B. Johnson
One of the main causes of the Immigration Act was the National Origins Quota system which was enforced into law during 1924 by Albert Johnson. The central reason that this was imposed was to be cautious after WWI. This law resulted in more immigrants being given visas in European Countries rather than in Asia.
“Immigration policy should be generous; it should be fair; it should be flexible. With such a policy we
can turn to the world, and to our own past, with clean hands and a clear conscience.”
― John F. Kennedy, A Nation of Immigrants
During John F. Kennedy’s term as president, he was determined to change the immigration system for the better. Following the assassination of JFK, Lyndon B. Johnson was highly motivated to carry on his legacy and reform the immigration law.
“But those who do come will come because of what they are, and not because of the land from which they sprung.”-Lyndon B. Johnson
In the mid 1960s, there were a lot of civil rights being reinforced including making segregation in public illegal and the Voting Rights act. After these laws were fortified a lot of congressional leaders realized that our own immigration law wasn’t civil.
history.state.gov- The signing of the 1924 Immigration Act.
llibertyellisfoundation.org- Immigrants first arriving at Ellis Island
nytimes.com- A line of Immigrants at Ellis Island.
Another reason for the law being passed was that it wasn’t anticipated to have much of an effect on the immigration system except to let more of a variety of ethnicities into the country. The final cause of the immigration protocol being revised was that immigrants did have many positive impacts for the US in the long run. Immigrants were able to raise the per capita in US families meaning that the average household in our country was making more money. Immigrants also created economic growth in the US because most of them came to our country ready to work hard. All of these factors allowed the Immigration and Nationality Act to be passed into law.
"Out of deference to the critics, I want to comment on … what the bill will not do. First, our cities will not be flooded with a million immigrants annually. Under the proposed bill, the present level of immigration remains substantially the same" -Ted Kennedy