Immigration and Nationality Act

Definition

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is the foundation of current U.S. immigration law. It governs how individuals can immigrate, be naturalized as U.S. citizens, and how non-citizens can temporarily visit or work in the United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The INA was first enacted in 1952 and has been amended numerous times since then, most significantly in 1965 and 1990.
2. The INA abolished the national origins quota system, which had favored European immigrants, and instead established a system based on family relationships and needed skills.
3. The INA set annual limits on the number of immigrants that can be admitted to the United States, with separate limits for different visa categories.
4. The INA established the process for naturalization, allowing certain immigrants to become U.S. citizens after meeting specific requirements.
5. The INA also governs the admission of non-immigrant visitors, such as tourists, students, and temporary workers, and sets the rules for their stay in the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Immigration and Nationality Act changed the U.S. immigration system.
  • The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) was a significant turning point in U.S. immigration policy. Prior to the INA, the U.S. had a national origins quota system that favored European immigrants. The INA abolished this system and instead established a new framework based on family relationships and needed skills. This opened up immigration opportunities for people from non-European countries, leading to a more diverse immigrant population in the United States.
• Describe the key features of the family-based and employment-based immigration systems established by the INA.
  • The INA created two primary pathways for legal immigration to the United States: family-based and employment-based. The family-based system allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain family members, such as spouses, children, and siblings, for permanent residence. The employment-based system enables employers to sponsor foreign workers with needed skills for permanent residence, helping to fill labor shortages. Both of these systems are subject to annual numerical limits set by the INA, and applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria to be approved.
• Analyze how the INA has been amended over time and the impact of these changes on U.S. immigration policy.
  • Since its initial enactment in 1952, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) has been amended numerous times, reflecting the evolving nature of U.S. immigration policy. The most significant amendments came in 1965 and 1990, which further liberalized immigration by eliminating the national origins quota system and increasing the number of visas available for family-based and employment-based immigration. These changes have led to a more diverse immigrant population in the United States, with immigrants from Asia and Latin America making up a growing share of the total. However, the INA continues to be a subject of ongoing debate and political controversy, as policymakers grapple with issues such as border security, undocumented immigration, and the appropriate balance between family-based and employment-based admissions.

Related terms

Quota System: A system that limits the number of immigrants allowed from each country, which was a key feature of the INA when it was first enacted in 1952.

Family-Based Immigration: A system that allows U.S. citizens and permanent residents to sponsor certain family members for immigration to the United States, which was expanded under the INA.

Employment-Based Immigration: A system that allows employers to sponsor foreign workers for permanent residence in the United States, which was also established under the INA.