Speech #710245931

President. it may be proper for me to make a very brief statement as to why I introduced this resolution. I have heard various estimates made of the number of aliens unlawfully in the United States. extending as high as a million. I have seen a statement in writing that there are in this country at least 300.000 aliens who came into the United States in violation of law since the passage of the immigration act of 1924. I know of no better place to inquire how many aliens are unlawfully in the United States than the Department of Labor. which administers the immigration laws. My understanding is that there is a statute of limitations. and that an alien. although unlawfully within the United States. who evades arrest and remains here for five years. may not be deported. Therefore. the number actually deportable is less than the number who are unlawfully here to day. The third question in the resolution is. What additional appropriations of money are necessary to deport the aliens now in the United States who are deportable? I am satisfied that the Congress has not been appropriating enough money for that purpose. In the past year about 16.000 aliens were deported. the year before. some 12.000. If we could do nothing more than double the number. the effect would be that many aliens who are now in the United States holding jobs would be removed from the country. and the jobs thus vacated would be available to American citizens. If any such alien is not employed. he probably is a burden upon our American charities. Therefore it is desirable to get these aliens out of the country. The only way to accomplish that result is to supply to the Immigration Service the necessary funds for their deportation. The last inquiry in the resolution is to ask for the recommendations of the Secretary of Labor with respect to what changes should be made in existing law in order to facilitate the deportation of undesirable aliens. We are. I hope. soon to have a new Secretary of Labor.