Speech #720093920

Speaker. illegal entry of aliens into the United States is not the only means of breaking down our restrictiveimmigration policy. The more legal restrictions we place upon the inward flow of population. the greater becomes the pressure to enter. Our immigration laws contain exceptions whereby thousands have been lawfully admitted under diplomatic immunity. They quickly terminate their services with foreign diplomats. throw off the cloak of immunity. and because of a loophole in the law. remain in the United States. I call attention to the fact that a large number of aliens are admitted each year as attendants. servants. and employees of foreigngovernment officials. For the seven fiscal years that the present quota law has been in effect. 14.047 aliens have been admitted under the last proviso of section 3 of the immigration act of February 5. 1917. which reads as follows: That nothing in this act shall be construed.to apply to accredited officials of foreign governments. nor to their suites. families. or guests. The annual admission of these attendants. servants. and employees during the last five fiscal years has been as follows: 1927. 2.454. 1928. 2.608. 1929. 2.873. 1930. 2.671. and 1931. 1.733. These people are admitted without regard to any of the provisions of our restrictive immigration laws. They do not have to pay a head tax. they are not affected by the quota.- nor do they even comply with the physical or mental requirements of the immigration act of 1917. The bill I have introduced. H. R. 7793. and which has been reported favorably. would require that all such attendants. servants. and employees depart from the United States upon the termination or change of their privileged nonimmigrant status. if they fail to depart voluntarily. they would be subject to deportation. To effect such deilarture or deportation. it is necessary to amend section 15 of the immigration act of 1924. and my bill contains the necessary amendment. It is the opinion of both Department of State and Department of Labor officials that many of these aliens now remain here. compete for positions with Americans and aliens lawfully in the United States. and that such legislation as is provided by this bill should be enacted. My bill also provides an amendment of section 15 of the 1924 immigration act relative to the status of alien students admitted to the United States for a definite study period. The present law is inadequate to deal with alien students. In his Annual Report for 1931 the Commissioner General of Immigration states. on page 45: When either persuasion or instructions have failed. it infrequently becomes necessary to resort to arrest procedure against these students to compel departure. and 410 warrants contemplating deportation have been issued in the past seven years. The bureau is most patient and liberal with these young people and overlooks many departures from the strict interpretation of the laws and regulations. as it wishes to afford the aliens every opportunity to complete their education. providing a reasonable amount of good faith is shown. However. it would be to the distinct advantage of the service if the law could be amended. as has been before recommended. so as to permit in doubtful cases the exaction of bonds guaranteeing maintenance of the student status and departure at the completion of studies. This would be an added protection and would justify the conditional admission -of many applicants who have been excluded at ports in the past years because of grave doubts of the bona fides of their declared intentions and standing as students. In other words. the absence of authority for the Bureau of Immigration to take or require bonds of foreign students applying for admission to the United States. is a distinct handicap to many such students and to the Government as well. It is a handicap to the Government because it makes extremely difficult the work of keeping track of these students and compelling their departure after the student status is terminated. It is a handicap to foreign students because in many cases they are unable to prove their bona fide status.