Year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the Hart-Celler Immigration Act. This historic piece of legislation is widely celebrated for abolishing the infamous “national origins” quota system that gave special preference to immigrants from Western Europe while barring newcomers from Asia. To commemorate this event in the country’s history, departments across campus held events to explore the domestic and foreign policy concerns that served as the backdrop to the passage and implementation of the 1965 Immigration Act. The relationship between the push for immigration reform, enforcement, the larger civil rights movement of the 1960s, and mass incarceration were also examined in these events. Scholars from across the country came to The Ohio State University to present their research on these matters. The exhibition on view here in the Global Gallery is part of this year-long effort on campus, and it features the work of three photographers and a designer, all contributing to our understanding of the experience of immigrant life. This exhibit will remain on view until January 8, 2016.
