Understood as an extension of the Civil Rights Act, this act removes immigration quotas based on nationality and creates a new system that favors family reunification and “skilled” immigrants.

This law shifts immigration policy away from quotas on the number of people allowed to immigrate from specific countries to now imposing an overall cap on the number of immigrants that can enter the United States annually. The act also marks a turning point when the majority of immigrants are no longer from Europe but instead come from Latin America.

The law also adds restrictions against LGBTQ+ people, who are considered to be "sexual deviants." This restriction will remain in place until 1990.