Speech #700172601

Mr. Chairman. it is believed from what we hear that we receive a tremendous immigration from Mexico. I have been asked by a number of Members how it is that our present restriction of immigration admits only 165.000. and. notwithstanding that. over 300.000 arrived last year? There is no restriction. no quota. on Mexico. Canada. Central and South America. Cuba. and the West Indies. and for that reason they can come in in as large numbers as they desire. But they should be. and they are. subject to the literacy test and to the provisions of the law of 1917. I agree that if the law is rigidly enforced on the Mexican border hundreds of thousands could not have qualified or have been admitted. But do not lose sight of this fact: What applies to Mexico in a great measure applies also to Canada. Why. last year alone we received from Canadathough our total immigration from entire Europe was but 165.00081.506 of which a record is made. So it is not only immigration from Mexico. but also from Canada. because what the gentleman from Massachusetts said a moment ago is true. there are thousands of our own people unemployed in Massachusetts. and why should we permit that tremendous number to come in here without the quota from Canada and Mexico? I introduced. three times. and advocated unsuccessfully. a bill placing Mexico. South and Central America. Canada. Cuba. and the West Indies under quota as it is applicable to European immigration. We need a few more men on our border line. I know the chairman of the Committee on Immigration and Naturalization has tried to secure larger appropriations. and he did. I have advocated the proposition of the gentleman from Michigan . who spoke a little while ago on the centralization of our forces and activities along the border line. I do not know why we should have a revenue patrol. and an immigration patrol. and a prohibition patrol on the border. one not cooperating with the other. They can be merged into one. and then we would have efficient control. and that would control not only immigration but also prohibition and revenue violations and other violations that are going on. I hope. therefore. that the chairman will be strong enough to convince the Treasury Department and the Department of Labor and other officials. who have the power. to bring about unification that it be done.