The Hart-Celler Act at 60 Reshaping American Immigration

Immigration Nerds

In this special episode of the Immigration Nerds Podcast, host Lauren Clarke welcomes renowned UCLA law professor Hiroshi Motomura for an in-depth discussion on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act.

Professor Motomura provides a detailed analysis of this landmark legislation, explaining how it fundamentally changed U.S. immigration policy by abolishing the discriminatory national origins quota system and establishing a new framework based on family reunification and attracting skilled labor. He describes the act as a "sea change" in American immigration law and frames it within the broader context of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.

This special episode offers listeners a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of a pivotal moment in U.S. immigration history and its lasting effects on American society.

GUEST: Hiroshi Motomura, Susan Westerberg Prager Distinguished Professor of Law, UCLA School of Law

HOST: Lauren Clarke

PRODUCER: Adam Belmar

SHOW RESOURCE LINKS:

• Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart–Celler Act)
• Hiroshi Motomura / UCLA School of Law