Speech #700066821

It is also my belief. and I say it with all sincerity. that the law itself should be amended in the following respects: First. it should raise the age limit of children of American citizens up to 21 years instead of the present law of 18 years. as 21 years Is universally accepted as the age limit where a child becomes responsible and assumes the responsibilities of a human being. Since the act of 1924 has gone into effect we have witnessed hundreds and perhaps thousands of cases of great hardship where American citizens petition for their wives and children. Naturally. all those children under 18 years are granted visas and are permitted to come to the United States with their mot her. but take the case of a girl who is slightly. over 18 years of age. she can not come in with the rest of the family. but must wait for a preference quota. yet she is the child of an American citizen. She must be left behind in foreign lands where it is dangerous to permit any minor to remain without the wing of the parent. The family is separated. and yet there is no question that the American citizen is being discriminated against in having his family with him. I also believe that the fathers and mothers of American citizens should be exempted from the quota and not merely placed in the preference class. Why should we say by law that the son or daughter should not be permitted to bring his or her mother and father in their last stages of life and give them more comfort and companionship? Why place them in a preference class only. which means nothing in a great many instances. because in some countries the preference takes many years. and. furthermore. because not more than onehalf of the immigrants of any nationality may be placed in the preferred class in any fiscal year. In the same preference we have other classes which take up the quota. It seems to me that no good argument has yet been presented against exemption of fathers and mothers from the quota. and I do not know of any real reason why Congress should not take some action on this question.