Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee. this bill. as those who were here prior to the roll call know. is a bill to extend the present law on the question of passport -control for another year. with the exception that that portion placing restrictions upon the issuance of -passports to American citizens is eliminated. There seems to have arisen some confusion over this measure. in the thought that it -is a limitation or modification of the immigration law. Such Is not the case. This measure will in no wise interfere with the present immigration laws..nor will it in anywise preclude the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization from bringing in and reporting to this House any measure that it tmay see fit to Introduce still further limiting and restricting immigration to this country. This bill gives to the State Department the right to keel) a double check on people desiring to enter the United States. As has already been pointed out by some gentlemen on the floor. immigrants who are aliens desiring to come to the United States under the present immigration laws. unless this measure is adopted. can only be held and examined at ports of entry. Those to whom admission is refused must then be retransported to Europe or to the point of origin by the -steamship companies. But this bill will empower the Secretary of State. through his ageneies in the various countries of Europe. to conduct examinations and investigations regarding aliens who are seeking passage to the United States before they embark. thus keeping out in a great measure the ninny thousands. and perhaps millions. of aliens Who .may be found to be undesirable and who are waiting in various ports of Europe now. hoping for passport regulation and the embargo on immigration to be lifted in order that they may emigrate to the United States.
Identified stereotypes
Many thousands, and perhaps millions, of aliens who may be found to be undesirable are waiting in various ports of Europe now.