The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, was a significant U.S. law that revised immigration policies. It established a system for prioritizing skilled workers and professionals while maintaining a quota for immigrants from each country. The Act also defined criteria for citizenship and allowed for the deportation of immigrants deemed subversive. Though it aimed to secure the nation and manage immigration effectively, the law faced criticism for reinforcing racial and ethnic biases in immigration policies. Overall, it shaped the framework of U.S. immigration law for decades.