Speech #700189442

They came in before June 3. 1921. (Hearings January 12. 1926. p. 31. committee hearings. 69th Cong.. 1st sess.. p. 179.) He further testified that the department estimated that 250.000 more had at that time entered since June 3. 1921. but they are In a separate class and if I have time I shall show you how they are benefited under this bill and the legislation which they expect to get enacted hereafter. but this bill deals directly with the 1.300.000. more or less. designated in Commissioner Hulls testimony. Nobody knows the exact number to be benefited under this particular measure. but everybody acquainted with the subject knows that the number runs into many hundreds of thousands. and the Commissioner General of Immigration has approximated it at 1.300.000. The bulk of these have not been examined to ascertain whether or not they have criminal records. whether they are mentally. morally. and physically inferior. whether they have met the requirements of the literacy test. whether they entered as contract laborers.. and whether they have met the standards of our immigration laws as set up in the act of 1917. It is known that the bulk of them came in defiance of law. I submit that a proposition to admit them to citizenship now is a ruinous impairment of our standards of immigration and naturalization. As bearing upon the practices of the country before alien and hyphenated influence beclome so powerful with politicians and Congress. I quote from annual reports made by the United States Commissioner of Naturalization dealing with the subject of naturalization and citizenship: In his annual report for the fiscal year 192324. at page 11. the Commissioner of Naturalization said: The following recommendations are strongly urged: At the present time an alien may declare his Intention to become a citizen immedia(ely upon landing In the United States. regardless of lawful entry therein or of his ability to read. speak. or write the English language. No alien who entered the United States unlawfully should be allowed to declare his intention. particularly if he entered since May 1. 1917. the date the Immigration act of February 5. 1917. became operative. * * * On page 12 of the same report the commissioner said: Since the recent quota law became effective an applicant who is a nonimmigrant alien and not an "immigrant" as defined In section 3 of the act of May 26. 1924. can not have residence in the United States for naturalization purposes. because he can not show admission to the United States as an immigrant alien upon an immigration visa. Such an alien should not be entitled to obtain a certificate of arrival from the manifest upon which he is recorded as entering the United States nor become naturalized. * * * In his annual report for the fiscal year 192425. page 7. the Commissioner of Naturalization said: It was early revealed in connection with the Investigations under this requirement that large numbers of aliens who had entered the country illegally or who were unlawfully remaining in the United States after having entered the country for temporary periods of residence only were attempting to make declarations of intention. Under the plan adopted by the bureau. applications from aliens arriving after June 30. are compared with the immigration visas In the custody of the Bureau of Naturalization. This requirement. It is believed. laid the foundation. at least at this point In the administration of the naturalization law. for the defeat of the attempts to become citizens by those who entered the United States in defiance of the provisions of the quota and visa restrictions of the immigration law. * * * On page 8 of the same report. in dealing with the great number of temporary visitors who have remained in the country illegally. the Commissioner of Naturalization said: This close cooperative action has resulted in the apprehension of many aliens temporarily in the United States who have attempted to make the declaration of intention and thereby acquire seeming rights under which to maintain permanent residence in the United States. * * * There are reported to be in the country Innumerable aliens who have entered the United States since June 3. 1921. in defiance of the immigration laws. Many of the declarations of intention now in existence will be found to be in the hands of such Illegally entering aliens at the time the 5year period of residence for naturalization purposes has expired. * * * In addition to these. alien seamen under the La Follette law were entitled to leave their ships on arrival at American ports and seek employment In their vocation. under certain restrictions. prior to July 1. 1924. when a visa became a prerequisite to permanent lawful presence In the United States. In some cases the masters of the vessels made no report to the immigration officers. but evidently permitted the seamen to leave In all respects regularly except as to the immigration requirements. In others. seamen left their vessels without any formalities being