Keith Mack
The Emergency Quota Act of 1921, also known as the Emergency Quota Law, was the first law to implement a quota system and limit immigration to the United States. This law was influenced by anti-immigrant and nativist sentiment stemming from World War I, as well as fears of increased immigration and the spread of radicalism. The Act imposed drastic caps on immigration, with annual quotas for each country calculated at 3% of the total number of foreign-born persons from that country recorded in the 1910 census. This approach favoured immigration from Northern and Western European countries, while limiting immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe. The national origin quota system was further solidified by the Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the National Origins Act or the Johnson-Reed Act, which reduced the total number of available visas and established per-country cap allocations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Law | Emergency Quota Law/Act |
| Year | 1921 |
| Reason | Fears of increased immigration after World War I, spread of radicalism, and anti-immigrant and nativist sentiment |
| Basis of Quota Calculation | Number of foreign-born persons from each country recorded in the 1910 census |
| Annual Quota | 3% of the total number of foreign-born persons from each country recorded in the 1910 census |
| Visa System | Implemented in 1924, mandating non-citizens to obtain and present a visa from a US embassy or consulate |
| National Origins Quota System | Established by Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924, numerically limiting immigration for the first time |
| National Origins Formula | Based on the 1920 Census of the total US population, effective July 1, 1929 |
| Visa Availability (1924 Act) | 120,000 visas for Western Hemisphere immigrants and 170,000 visas for Eastern Hemisphere immigrants |
| Visa Availability (1953-1965) | Quota per nationality limited to one-sixth of 1% of US inhabitants of that national origin in the 1920 census |
| Visa Availability (1990) | Total of 675,000 visas per year (480,000 for family-reunification and 140,000 for employment) |
| End of National Origins Quota System | 1965 with the Immigration Act |
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What You'll Learn
The Emergency Quota Law of 1921
The law was influenced by anti-immigrant and nativist sentiments stemming from World War I. It favoured immigration from Northern and Western European countries, while limiting the number of immigrants from Eastern and Southern European countries. The total number of immigrants admitted to the U.S. fell rapidly as a result, from 554,920 in 1919 to 35,576 in 1932.
The Emergency Quota Law was a temporary measure, revised by the Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the National Origins Act. This act further reduced the number of available visas and established per-country cap allocations. The 1924 Act introduced a visa system, requiring non-citizens to obtain a visa from a US embassy or consulate before entering the country.
The national origin quota system remained in place until 1965, though hints of it can still be seen in today's immigration system. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 replaced the quota system with a preference system based on immigrants' skills and family relationships with US citizens or residents. This act also increased the total number of visas available and introduced a diversity visa program to promote immigration from a wider range of countries.
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The Immigration Act of 1924
The national origins quota system officially began with the Immigration Act of 1924, though it built upon earlier legislation and temporary measures such as the Emergency Quota Law of 1921, which limited immigration "scientifically" by imposing quotas based on immigrants' country of birth. The 1924 Act reduced the total number of visas available from approximately 358,000 to 164,000 or 165,000, with 120,000 visas available to immigrants from the Western Hemisphere and 170,000 visas available to immigrants from the Eastern Hemisphere.
The 1924 Act also established preferences under the quota system for certain relatives of U.S. residents, including their unmarried children under 21, their parents, and spouses over 21. It defined the term "immigrant" and designated all other alien entries as "non-immigrant," or temporary visitors. The Act remained in place until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, which revised it completely.
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The impact of WWI and anti-immigrant sentiment
The First World War and the anti-immigrant sentiment that followed were significant factors in the creation of the quota system and the limiting of immigration. Post-war America saw an increase in nativist and isolationist sentiments, with fears of the spread of radicalism and communism, and a desire to preserve America's character as a nation of northern and western European stock. This led to pressure on Congress and the White House to act decisively to reduce immigration.
The Emergency Quota Act of 1921, also known as the Emergency Quota Law, was the first legislation to establish numerical limits on immigration to the United States. This law was influenced by anti-immigrant sentiment stemming from the First World War and was designed to reduce immigration severely. It imposed quotas based on immigrants' country of birth, with annual quotas calculated at 3% of the total number of foreign-born persons from that country recorded in the 1910 census. This approach favoured immigrants from Northern and Western European countries, while limiting those from Southern and Eastern Europe, who had previously made up a large percentage of immigrants.
The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the National Origins Act or the Johnson-Reed Act, further tightened these restrictions and made them permanent. The 1924 Act reduced the total number of visas available and established per-country cap allocations. It also mandated that potential immigrants obtain visas from US consulates abroad before arriving in the US. The quotas were based on the 1890 census, when the percentage of the population from regions considered less desirable was fairly small. This calculation ensured that the majority of immigration visas would be issued to immigrants from North-Western Europe.
The anti-immigrant sentiment of the time was also reflected in the enforcement of the quotas. The State Department viewed the quotas as limits rather than goals and did not seek to fill them. For example, between 1933 and 1941, roughly 118,000 German quota slots went unfilled, even as Jewish refugees fled Nazi persecution. Public anti-immigration sentiment remained strong, and Congress and the State Department were reluctant to introduce new legislation to aid these refugees.
The quota system officially ended in 1965 with the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965, which removed ethnicity-based quotas and adopted a more neutral way of controlling immigration. However, hints of the national origin quota system can still be seen in the modern immigration system, such as in the preference categories for family members of US citizens and highly skilled individuals.
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The visa system and its requirements
The Emergency Quota Law (1921)
The Emergency Quota Law of 1921 was enacted as a temporary measure to restrict immigration to the United States. It imposed quotas on immigration based on each immigrant's country of birth. The annual quotas were calculated as 3% of the total number of foreign-born individuals from a given country recorded in the 1910 census. This law caused confusion among aspiring immigrants, who were abruptly denied entry once the annual quota allocations were filled.
The National Origins Act (1924)
The Immigration Act of 1924, also known as the National Origins Act, further reduced the number of visas available. It established per-country cap allocations, with a total cap of approximately 164,000 visas from the Eastern Hemisphere. This act promoted the immigration of Western and Northern Europeans, while severely limiting the number of visas available to Asians, Southern Europeans, and Eastern Europeans. The act did not apply to countries with bilateral agreements with the US or to Asian countries listed in the Asiatic Barred Zone Act of 1917.
Evolution of the Visa System
The visa system continued to evolve, and by 1990, the total number of visas available increased to 675,000 per year. This included family-reunification visas, employment visas, and diversity visas for immigrants from countries with low emigration rates to the US. While the national origin quota system officially ended in 1965, its influence can still be seen in the modern immigration system, which uses preference categories to allocate green cards.
Visa Requirements
The requirements for obtaining a visa vary depending on the country of destination and the purpose of travel. In general, visa applications require individuals to fill out application forms, provide necessary documentation, and meet specific eligibility criteria. Some common requirements include a valid passport, photographs, proof of travel plans, and evidence of financial stability. Certain countries may have additional requirements, such as security checks and health assessments.
Visa Types
Visas can be broadly categorized into immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Immigrant visas allow individuals to reside permanently in the host country, while non-immigrant visas grant temporary entry for specific purposes, such as tourism, business, or medical treatment. There are also specialized visas, such as transit visas for individuals passing through a country, and work visas for individuals seeking employment in a foreign country.
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The end of the quota system in 1965
The national origin quota system, which had been in place since the 1920s, was officially ended in 1965. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, abolished the quota system based on national origin. The act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and brought about far-reaching changes that continue to shape the current immigration system.
The 1965 law replaced the national-origins quota system with preference categories, such as relatives of US citizens or permanent residents, individuals with skills deemed beneficial to the US, and refugees fleeing violence or unrest. While the new system abolished quotas, it still imposed caps on per-country and total immigration, as well as on each category.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 had several unintended consequences that significantly impacted the flow of immigrants to the US and transformed the country's demographic profile. One of the most notable consequences was the dramatic increase in immigration from Asian countries, particularly those fleeing war-torn Southeast Asian nations such as Vietnam and Cambodia. This shift in immigration patterns contributed to the diversification of the American population, moving away from the previous dominance of European immigrants.
The end of the national-origins quota system in 1965 was the result of growing calls for immigration reform, influenced by the strengthening civil rights movement. President John F. Kennedy played a pivotal role in advocating for immigration reform, denouncing the quota system as "intolerable" in a speech delivered in June 1963. After his assassination, Congress took up the cause and eventually passed the landmark Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which bore the imprint of Kennedy's commitment to civil rights.
While the 1965 law marked a significant break with the past, hints of the quota system can still be found in today's immigration framework. The modern immigration system continues to utilise preference categories, with each category allocated a fixed number of available visas. However, immediate relatives of US citizens, such as spouses, parents, and unmarried children under 21, are exempt from quotas, allowing for the issuance of an unlimited number of green cards in this category.
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Frequently asked questions
The Immigration Act of 1917 was the first widely restrictive immigration law in the US.
The Emergency Quota Act of 1921 was the first law to implement a quota system for immigration to the US.
The quota system was based on a country's representation in past US census figures. The quota per country was limited to 3% of the number of foreign-born persons of that nationality residing in the US in the 1910 census.
The quota system reduced the number of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe and Asia. It also prevented many refugees from escaping Nazi Germany.
