Speech #690145694

However. the entrances decreased in 1922 to 809.556. Tile difficulties were clearly recognized and Congress determined to remedy the situation. The result was the 1924 immigration act. which became effective July 1. 1924. This act reduced the per cent of foreign born for establishing the quota from 3 to 2 per cent and changed the date on which the computation was made from the census of 1910 to 1890. This last act is a serious attempt to preserve the racial character of the American people. which has been rapidly changing for years. The necessity for this is well Illustrated in the statement of Benjamin Franklin. issued in 1741. when he stated that a total population of about 1.000.000 had been produced from a total foreign immigration of less than 80.000. In other words. the total number of those who entered this country during the first 134 years was only about onetwelfth of the population at that time. while in 1920 the number of immigrants during the hundred years previous amounted to about onethird of our population. Some idea of the origin of our population may be had from the estimated primary origin of our population at the beginning of American independence which wasPer cent Per cent English -----------------82. 1 French ------------------ 0. 6 5cotch ------------------ 7. 0 German ------------------ 5.6 Irish -------------------- 1.9 All others -----------------. 3 Dutch ------------------- 2.5 The immigration acts of 1917 and 1924 have made it possible to a great extent to limit the entry into this country of undesirable and dangerous aliens. This bill will materially assist the immigration authorities in further preventing the entrance of such aliens and provides methods whereby those already unlawfully in the United States and those who may hereafter unlawfully enter or seek to enter may be deported. There should be no objection to the deportation of aliens who constitute a menace to or an unjust burden upon the Government. The principle reason for deporting unlawful aliens is to promote the maintenance of law and order in our country and to extend protection and opportunities for development to all the people residing in our country. aliens and citizens alike. No class of people suffers more from the actions of undesirables and lawbreaking aliens than does that great body of worthy and deserving aliens residing in our midst. who in good faith are contributing to the welfare of the country and are in large numbers attempting to become citizens of the United States. Unworthy conduct and flagrant disregard of the laws of our country on the part of a very small percentage of aliens residing in the United States. unfortunately but certainly tends to create a prejudice in the public mind against all aliens. Therefore. the deportation of that small percentage of undesirable aliens will redound to the benefit of the worthy and deserving aliens in the country to an equally if not greater degree than. to that of our own citizens. The relation of this problem of limiting hnmigration to the enforcement of the prohibition and narcotic act is well shown by the letter of General Andrews. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. to the chairman of the House Committee on Immigration: