The number was set either by Congress or the INS. Who knows why they decide the things they do??

Here is part of the detail; "proposed by United States Representative Emanuel Celler of New York, co-sponsored by United States Senator Philip Hart of Michigan ..., and heavily supported by United States Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts - all Democrats.[1]

An annual limitation of 300,000 visas was established for immigrants, including 170,000 from Eastern Hemisphere countries, with no more than 20,000 per country. By 1968, the annual limitation from the Western Hemisphere was set at 120,000 immigrants, with visas available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the number of family reunification visas was unlimited. While as of 2010 there are no quotas for immigrant spouses of US citizens, quotas for other types of relatives of US citizens have since been instituted."

Quote Originally Posted by Jennifer Williams View Post
Duncan, you are quite educated and informed and I feel honored to be bested by you in debate, Sir.



It seems so simple, yet I'm sure it isn't. I am completely ignorant of who sets these quotas and how they are determined, and why the number 300,000 is chosen, for example.