October 3, 2015 marks the fifty-year anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This law holds great significance for many Asian Americans because it abolished the quotas based on national origin. Prior to this act, people from China, Japan, India, the Philippines, and other Asian countries were targeted by the Asian Exclusion Act, which limited their immigration and naturalization in the United States.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened the doors for highly educated and highly skilled workforce to immigrate to the U.S. from Asian countries. To highlight the ways that this Act have shaped our families and our nation, AAPA members will be sharing their stories about how the Act has impacted their families. Please add your stories to the conversation on Facebook and @AAPAOnline. Together, we can raise awareness of how immigration laws that are welcoming to the diversity of this country create a stronger, richer, and inclusive nation. #1965ImmigrationAct