Speech #660272782

The success of any plan which permits the admission of aliens to assist in harvesting crops depends solely upon their prompt return to their homes when the season is over. for otherwise there would be nothing but a wholesale evasion of the lnTmigration act. Of course. no one can justify such a subterfuge. which would result in the permanent addition to our population of an element which the law declares to be undesirable. It is my understanding that there has been but cemparatively few desertions among the Mexicans brought in to work in the cotton fields of the Southwest. and I am satisfied that practically all of these can be sought out and deported if the field force of the Immigration Service is sufficiently increased. Whatever complaint there may be can best be met by providing an adequate number of competent and wellpaid Immigration Service employees. for it is a notorious fact that such is not the case today. In conclusion let me impress upon the House that the effect of the adoption of section 7 of this bill. without amendment. will destroy the Egyptian longstaple cotton industry in the United States. The production of this highgrade cotton began in a small way about six years ago. and has developed until it is now the basic crop in the irrigated valleys of Arizona and southern California.