The Hart-Celler Act Should Be Repealed Because It Undermines American Cultural Cohesion
Source: John Daniel Davidson. "It’s Long Past Time To Scrap Hart-Celler." May 15, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that America's 1965 immigration law was a huge mistake because it prioritized diversity over cultural fit. He believes we should scrap it and only let in immigrants who can and will adopt American culture, rather than continuing policies that change America's demographics.
Conclusion
The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 should be completely scrapped and replaced with an immigration system that prioritizes assimilation and national interest
Premises
- Hart-Celler fundamentally changed immigration from favoring Northern/Western Europeans to prioritizing family reunification and employment needs, shifting demographics toward Asia and Latin America
- The law was based on multiculturalist assumptions that rejected the importance of cultural compatibility for successful assimilation
- The current immigration system has been destructive to American society by bringing in people unsuited or uninterested in assimilation
- Trump's 2015 campaign broke the political taboo against criticizing mass Third World immigration and demonstrated public support for immigration restrictions
- The proposed Assimilation Act represents common-sense reforms including ending chain migration, H-1B visas, diversity lottery, and implementing national interest standards
- Immigration without assimilation constitutes 'national suicide' and threatens American cultural cohesion
Assumptions
- Some cultures and societies produce people more capable of assimilating to American society than others
- Cultural compatibility is essential for successful immigration and national cohesion
- America has a distinct culture that immigrants should be expected to adopt
- Mass immigration from the Third World is inherently problematic for American society
- National demographic composition should be controlled through immigration policy