Demographic and labor-market impact
All 16 modern US presidents ranked by their net score on this single sub-criterion. Good and harm are scored 0–10 independently; net is good minus harm. Click a name for the full scorecard.
Hart-Celler initiated dramatic demographic shift in subsequent decades: Asian and Latin American immigration grew substantially; foreign-born share began rising from 1970 low.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Hart-Celler Act produced 50-year demographic transformation: foreign-born share rose from ~5% (1965) to ~14% (2020); Asian and Latin American shares grew substantially.
census.gov ↗
Immigration Act 1990 reshaped demographic trajectory. Foreign-born share continued rising (~8% by 1990 Census).
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born US population share rose to ~7.9% by 1990 Census, continuing post-Hart-Celler upward trajectory.
census.gov ↗
IRCA legalization transformed demographic profile of 1980s immigrant cohort. Foreign-born share of US population rose from ~6.2% (1980) to ~7.9% (1990). Labor-market integration of legalized population substantial.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born share of US population rose from ~6.2% to ~7.9% during Reagan years, substantially driven by IRCA legalization; began the 40-year rise that reached ~14% by 2024.
census.gov ↗
Foreign-born share of population at low (~5%) during Kennedy term. Hart-Celler 1965 began demographic shift later.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
US foreign-born share remained at 20th-century low (~5%) during Kennedy term; demographic transition began post-Hart-Celler.
census.gov ↗
Foreign-born share continued rising (~13% by 2017). Latinx population continued growth. Indian and Chinese H-1B sources changed demographic profile of high-skilled immigrants.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
US foreign-born share rose to ~13.5% by 2017, approaching all-time high; demographic transition continuing along multiple dimensions.
census.gov ↗
Era-typical. Hart-Celler effects continuing to shape demographic transition.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
US foreign-born share continued slow rise from 1970 low during Ford term.
census.gov ↗
Immigration-driven labor force growth contributed to economic recovery. Foreign-born share rose to ~14.3% by 2024 — near all-time high. Demographic transition continued.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
US foreign-born share rose to ~14.3% by 2024 (near all-time high); immigration was significant contributor to post-COVID labor-force recovery.
census.gov ↗
Hart-Celler effects accelerating: Asian and Latin American immigration share rising. Demographic transition underway.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born share of US population reached its 20th-century low (~4.7%) in 1970 census; subsequent rise begins post-Nixon.
census.gov ↗
Foreign-born share continued rising. NAFTA shifted Mexican migration patterns. Late-1990s tech boom drove H-1B expansion.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born population share rose from ~8% (1993) to ~11% (2000); H-1B annual cap raised from 65K to 195K during late-1990s tech boom.
census.gov ↗
Foreign-born share continued rising (~12% by 2008). H-1B remained substantial. Demographic transition continued.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born US population share rose to ~12% by 2008, continuing post-Hart-Celler demographic transition.
census.gov ↗
Mariel + Indochinese refugee admissions added ~400,000 to US population. Era-typical demographic patterns.
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- good·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born share continued slow rise during Carter term to ~6.2% by 1980 Census.
census.gov ↗
Bracero Program continued. DP Act and 1952 Act small relative to overall demographic dynamics. Modest impact.
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- harm·Tier 2·Historical record·Unverified
Bracero Program continued under Truman bringing tens of thousands of Mexican workers annually; total US foreign-born population at historical lows during 1945-1953.
Bracero Program records 1942-1964; INS annual reports
Bracero Program initiated 1942 (wartime labor agreement with Mexico) — substantial economic-immigration program though with significant exploitation concerns. Otherwise low-immigration era.
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- good·Tier 2·Historical record·Unverified
The 1942 Bracero Program brought ~200,000 Mexican workers to the US during WWII labor shortages; conditions for workers were poor and the program established a contested precedent.
Bracero Program executive agreement with Mexico, 1942-1964; wartime labor records
Bracero Program peaked at ~445,000 workers/year (1956). Operation Wetback reversed undocumented labor flow. Mixed labor-market and demographic impact.
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- harm·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Bracero Program brought 4.5+ million worker-trips total 1942-1964 with peak under Eisenhower; Operation Wetback dramatically reversed undocumented migration patterns mid-decade.
Bracero Program peak years 1955-1959; Department of Labor Bracero records
Foreign-born share flat for first time in decades. Agricultural and service-sector labor shortages. Demographic transition continued but immigration component reduced.
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- harm·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born share of US population growth slowed substantially under Trump T1; first sustained restrictionist immigration regime since pre-1965 era.
census.gov ↗
Foreign-born population declining due to mass deportations. Agricultural and service labor shortages emerging. Demographic transition reversing under enforcement regime.
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- harm·Tier 1·Statistic·Unverified
Foreign-born population share showing decline during Trump T2 mass deportation operations; agricultural and service-sector labor shortages emerging in affected regions.
census.gov ↗