What is the Immigration and Nationality Act? Check U.S. Immigration Laws!

If you are wondering what the Immigration and Nationality Act is, then this is the article for you. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is the foundation of modern United States immigration law.

It was officially passed in 1952 as Public Law 82-414, the law is often called the McCarran–Walter Act. 

It reorganised and brought together earlier immigration laws into one system. Today, the INA remains codified in Title 8 of the U.S. Code, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Government Publishing Office. 

Let us learn more about the purpose of the Immigration and Nationality Act, its key roles and when it was signed.

What Was the Purpose of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952?

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 was designed to:

• Codify and organise previous federal immigration laws

• Strengthen national security during the Cold War

• Regulate who could enter, stay, or be removed from the U.S.

• Define rules for naturalisation and citizenship

According to official congressional records, the Act expanded the government’s authority to exclude or deport individuals considered security risks during that era.

Check Out: New Citizenship Test Introduced by Donald Trump

What Major Changes Did the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act Introduce?

While the Act removed race-based restrictions on citizenship, it still maintained a national origins quota system. That system limited immigration from many parts of Asia, Africa and Southern Europe. The table below shows one of the most important features of the act:

Source: Official Congressional Records: 

How Did the Immigration and Nationality Act Evolve?

The INA did not remain unchanged. A major turning point came when the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was signed by Lyndon B. Johnson. 

This reform abolished the national origins quota system entirely and reshaped U.S. immigration policy to prioritise family ties and employment skills.

Since then, Congress has amended the INA many times. Programmes such as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) operate within the broader framework of immigration law, though DACA itself was created through executive action, not by rewriting the INA.

Which President Signed the Immigration and Nationality Act?

The original 1952 Act was signed into law by Harry S. Truman, although he initially vetoed it. Congress overrode his veto, making it law.

Why is the Immigration and Nationality Act Important Today?

The US Immigration and Nationality Act still governs:

• Visa categories

• Deportation procedures

• Green card eligibility

• Naturalisation rules

• Refugee and asylum admissions

Immigration and Nationality Act Trivia 

It forms the legal backbone for how the United States manages immigration in 2025. Here are the important trivia facts: 

What is the new bill for Immigration 2025?
Immigration reform proposals are regularly introduced in Congress, but no single 2025 bill has replaced the INA. Changes typically amend existing provisions.

What did the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 do?
It eliminated the national origins quota system and prioritised family reunification and skilled immigration.

Did Biden overturn Trump's immigration policy?
Some executive immigration policies were revised, but the core INA framework remains unchanged because only Congress can amend federal immigration law.

Check Out: List of Visa-Free Countries for U.S. Citizens

Therefore, in simple terms, the Immigration and Nationality Act created the structure that still governs American immigration today. Although it has been amended many times, its core framework continues to guide visa rules, citizenship pathways and border policies across the United States.