Speech #670249990

Mr. Speaker. the result of the new 3 per cent restrictive immigration law is startling. In the last fiscal year without this law in force the net increase of immigration was Diore than onehalf million. For the first -ine montihs of the present fiscal year. operating under this 3 per cent law. the net increase is but 80.000. Strange to say. this increase consists entirely of women and girls. The male immigrant aliens admitted do not equal those who have departed. the female immigrant aliens admitted exceed in number those who departed by tIe 80.000. The laws of the United States should be amended to .permit these women to become citizens of the United States. In addition. there are more than two and onefourth million fenale aliens 21 years :and upward in the United States who are not naturalized. Under our law any woman who marries a citizen of the United States and who might herself be lawfully naturalized automatically becomes a citizen. This citizenship by marriage may be acquired without the woman being able to speak otir language. without a study of our Constitution. and without even appearing in court and renouncing .allegiance and fidelity to her foreign ruler. and without taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. Naturalization papers may be legally filed by an unmarried woman who is otherwise qualified. or by the widow of a foreignborn person not naturalized. but not by a woman during the existence of her marital rIelation. I have introduced a bill granting to married alien women the independent right to be naturalized. A naturalization proceeding is an education in our language. laws. and form of government. The mother is best qualified to teach her children the true meaning of America and what it stands for. Married women. in my opinion. should have the independent right to he naturalized. The last amendment to our Constitution provided that the right to citizens of the United States. should not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of. sex. !but under the presenit law alien married women are deniedi the independent right to naturalization and the equal suffrage thit goes with it unless they are naturalized through the naturalization of their husband. Our law also provides that an American woman who marries a foreigner shall take the nationality of her husband. and that at the termination of the marital relation she nay resume her American citizenship. if abroad. by registering as an American citizen within one year with a consul of the United States or by returning to reside in the United States. or. if residing in the United States at the teruminafion of the marital relation. -by continuing to reside therein. The bill I introduced also provides that a woman citizen of the United States who hereafte r. being then a resident of the United States. marries an alien who may be lawfully naturalized shall remain a citizen of tile United States so long as she continues to reside therein. unless she makes formal renunciation of her citizenship before a court having jurisdiction over naturalization of aliens. If at the termination of the marital status she is a citizen of the United States. she shall retain her citizenship regardless of her residence. If during the continuance of the marital status she resides continually for two years in -a foreign State of which her husband is a citizen or subject. or for five years continues outside the United States. she shall thereafter be subject to the presumption that she has ceased to le an American citizen. The fact that a wonman is married should be no reason to deny her the right of citizenship in the United States through naturalization proceedings if she is an eligible alien. Marriage of a citizen of tile United States to a foreigner should not of itself terminate her citizenship. Tile laws of our country should grant independent citizonship to women.