Under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, how many immigrants were allowed from the Western Hemisphere each year?

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a significant change in U.S. immigration policy by abolishing the quota system that had previously favored European immigrants. Instead, the act established a more equitable framework for immigration based on family reunification and skilled labor. Under this act, the country allowed up to 120,000 immigrants per year from the Western Hemisphere. This was a specific allocation that recognized the unique circumstances and immigration patterns from that region, balancing the need for skilled labor with humanitarian considerations related to family migration. The figure of 120,000 reflects the intentions of policymakers at the time to create a more diverse and inclusive immigration system while responding to the demographic realities of immigration flows from the Americas.