Speech #690007068

Mr. President. the present law provides that as to relatives only the unmarried child under 15 years of age. or the wife. of a citizen of the United States shall be admitted to this country as "nonquota immigrants." My proposed amendment would also permit the admission of dependent widowed mothers over 50 years of age and dependent fathers and mothers over 60 years of age. The law provides further that in the issuance of immigratior visas to "quota immigrants" preference shall be given "to a quota immigrant who is the unmarried child under 21 years of age. the father. the mother. the husband. or the wife. of a citizen of the United States who is 21 years of age or over." My proposed amendment would not change the existing law except to place dependent widowed mothers over 50 years of age and dependent fathers and mothers over 60 years of age in the " nonquota class." The law requiring immigrants to obtain passports from the government to which they owe allegiance. and make application for their visa to the nearest American consul. and comply with all other provisions of law would remain the same as now. The burden of proof would be on every alien tq establish* that lie or she is not subject to exclusion under any provision of law. and American citizens would be required to furnish a satisfactory bond that their relatives would not become public charges. Furthermore. should such aliens become undesirable they may be deported. and I favor deporting all undesirable aliens. It occurs to me that from a humanitarian standpoint the law should be amended as I have proposed. and I believe that the amendment will be agreed to by the Congress. Surely no Christian citizen would object to the reuniting of immediate nembers of the families of worthy naturalized American citizens. I move that the bill be referred to tie Committee on Immnigration.