What If LBJ’s 1965 Immigration Act Never Happened?
WHAT IF LBJ’S 1965 IMMIGRATION ACT NEVER HAPPENED?
The most transformative act that ended up reshaping America into the nation we live in today was undoubtedly the Immigration and Nationality Act enacted nearly six decades ago. It was signed into law on October 3, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. If ever there was a clear demarcation date, a “before” and “after” moment on American national identity, that instant–with LBJ and ink pen in hand–was it.
LBJ was the most metamorphic president of my lifetime. While his tireless efforts and masterful legislative expertise led to the passage of four major civil rights bills, the introduction of both Medicare and Medicaid, anti-poverty legislation, and several other new government programs tied to the bold initiative known as “The Great Society,” when we look around today at the American landscape, his immigration bill impacted more lives and changed our nation in ways we still haven’t fully comprehended. The bill was so impactful that we continue to debate the pros and cons of immigration (legal and illegal). Much of the passion associated with our current national divide is rooted in LBJ’s act.
What am I talking about when I claim the immigration act was transformative? Well, just look around. All those small restaurants in your neighborhood owned and run by first- and second-generation immigrant families…..they wouldn’t be here if it were not for the 1965 immigration act. All those doctors, and nurses, and medical professionals you see when you aren’t feeling well…..they wouldn’t be here if it were not for the 1965 immigration act. All those broken inner cities that were suffering hopelessly from “white flight” which have now been re-energized with new commerce and activity……they wouldn’t be here if it were not for the 1965 immigration act. Many of the high-tech innovations we use today to make our lives easier…..they wouldn’t be here if it were not for the 1965 immigration act. On and on.
The Immigration and Nationality Act abolished quotas that had been in effect since World War I. It opened the doors to (quoting LBJ) “those who can contribute most to this country – to its growth, to its strength, to its spirit.” The new law effectively ended bans on new immigrants from non-European countries and created a federal system that focused on immigrants’ skills and family relations with current citizens or U. S. residents, who were given priority to come and live here. A fair number of you reading this right now, wouldn’t be American citizens and residents living and working here if that bill wasn’t signed and passed into law. Think of these profound implications for a moment.
Critics point to the act as *the* turning point in history, when the United States went from a mostly white (European-centric) society towards a far more diverse ethnic melting pot open to many more people from all over the world. There’s an ugly strain of racism attached to some of that criticism — boiling down to white people feeling threatened by more darker-skinned people around them — but otherwise their arguments are certainly worthy of debate. I’ll read and listen if someone wants to try and make a case AGAINST immigration. If critics wish to make arguments as to why the immigration act was a bad thing for America, either short-term or long-term, please do so. Now, is your chance.
But again, I say — no, I beg of you — just look around. Step outside your front door and open you eyes:
— Tonight for dinner, we can chose from dozens of Thai restaurants, different kinds of Chinese, and order foods from all over world — and it will be terrific.
— Today, I know that when I need to go to a doctor’s office and receive medical treatment, chances are high that the health care professional who takes care of me was born and perhaps educated in one of those countries that was banned from immigration prior to 1965.
— Right now, as I type this article and post it up on a social media platform, many of the high-tech experts who made all this free public access possible speak broken English with funny accents, have strange names, and were born in countries whose citizens weren’t open to the possibility of American citizenship a few generations ago.
— In the near future, when I choose to start receiving a Social Security check, I can be thankful that immigrants have contributed mightily towards funding that critically vital federal retirement system relied on by tens of millions of native-born Americans–especially in recent times as domestic birthrates among have declined. Immigrant newcomers have replaced the payee rolls, who are essential to funding a system that’s been a great thing for society and kept million of seniors out of poverty.
— When I travel from cost to coast, I can also drive or walk into many American cities and even smaller towns and see thriving neighborhoods, open ethnic markets, and entertainment that otherwise might be boarded-up storefronts were it not for LBJ’s bold immigration act.
Indeed, the word TRANSFORMATIVE isn’t strong enough a word here. It’s changed *everything.*
LBJ’s act of 1965 doesn’t get nearly enough credit, nor is it celebrated enough, even by those who have benefited the most from its passage–which basically includes EVERYONE. Sadly we’ve allowed xenophobes, racists, MAGA nostalgists, and people fearful of change to falsely denigrate and malign an important AMERICAN ISSUE.
Let this be a reminder that we are a much better, stronger, far more interesting and dynamic culture today than before due to —– immigration. Let’s also remember the fact we are all chain “immigrants” and/or the descendants of immigrants. We remain a nation of immigrants. We may not be “The Great Society” envisioned by LBJ just yet. But thanks to recent immigrants who have arrived during my lifetime, we are certainly a “greater society” because of them.
Thank you for your inspirational and informative narrative.
It has inclined me to take pause and contemplate the message and agree gratefully.
As I enjoy the opening speeches at the Democratic Convention, why you are not an invited speaker, I will never know.
Have a good evening.