Speech #720007273

This great number included both those who could come in outside the quota. and those who were admissible under the quota. The President realized the seriousness of the situation and saw what might result if American citizens were compelled to compete with these aliens. Since no action was taken by Congress to restrict immigration further and thereby protect the American standard of living. the President proceeded to act. He found the means in the 1917 basic immigration act. That act excludes from the United States physically. mentally. and morally unfit aliens. and it also provides that no alien is admissible who is "likely to. become a public charge." This latter provision applies to all immigrants except near relatives. .Then the immigration act of 1924 places the burden of proof upon the alien to establish that he is not likely to become a public charge. On September 8. 1930. President Hoover instructed the members of the American Consular Servicethe consuls issue immigration visasto enforce the immigration laws and refuse a visa to any alien wishing to come to the United States who was" likely to become a public charge." Under this Executive order American consuls. ably assisted by technical advisers of the Department of Labor. issued immigration visas. keeping in mind the economic conditions in the United States. As a result of the order of the President. there was a very considerable decrease in the issuance of visas. For the four months through July. August. September. and October. 1930. the number admitted was 59.873. while during the succeeding eight months to the .end of the fiscal year the number was only 37.266. Because of the *fact. however. that immigration visas are good for four months after issued. and many visas had been issued before the date of the Executive order. the decline in admissions at first was not so noticeable. A great proportion of the 97.139 immigrants admitted during the fiscal year 193031 were nonquota immigrants--members of families of American citizens and other persons less likely to come here in competition with wage earners. This reason for denying immigration visas is temporary. When America picks up in industry. the prospective immigrant may rightfully claim he can get work and therefore will not be likely to become a public charge. This fact the President no doubt had in mind when he stated in his message: I recommend that immigration restriction now in force under administrative effort be placed on a more definite basis by law. The time has come when America should select those persons of specific trades actually needed here. Why should we admit 100 bricklayers into the United States when we are more than amply supplied with that class of skilled labor?