What significant change did the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 bring about?

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart-Celler Act, marked a substantial shift in U.S. immigration policy by eliminating the national origins quota system that had previously favored immigrants from northern and western Europe. Instead, the Act established a system that emphasized family reunification and attracted skilled workers. This facilitated a significant increase in immigration from Asia and Latin America, as individuals from these regions were no longer discriminated against based on their national origins. This change transformed the demographic landscape of the United States, leading to increased diversity and altering the composition of the immigrant population significantly.

The other options do not accurately reflect the Act's provisions. For instance, there was no provision for equally expanded quotas for all countries, nor did it limit immigration to educated individuals alone. The focus was on reuniting families and attracting immigrants with specific skills, rather than creating restrictive criteria based exclusively on education. Additionally, while immigration from North America continued, the Act did not specifically increase it; rather, it opened pathways for immigrants from other regions, primarily impacting Asia and Latin America.