Speech #730173746

Mr. Speaker. this bill does not do anything except to enable a number of Russian refugees who are in this country. to adjust their status under our immigration laws through registration under the act of March 2. 1929. Some of them have been here since 1917. some snce 1920. some since 1922. and some since 1924. All of these people who are here. several hundreds of them. could not be deported to Russia. because we did not recognize Russia until several months ago. Technically these people are subject to deportation. Ninetyfive percent of these aliens are of a high type and are good prospective citizens. In most cases the men have married American women and have American children. We cannot find a record of their entry in the last number of years. Some of them came here as visitors and failed to depart. They would be subject to deportation unless we give some statutory right to the Secretary of Labor to permit these people to remain in the United States. To permit them to remain in the United States. as provided in the bill. they must meet the following conditions: First. they must have entered the United States prior to January 1933. Second. they could not have been deported to any country to which it was unlawful to deport them prior to July 1. 1933. In other words. this applies only to this group of Russians. because Russia was the only country to which we could not deport an alien. Third. they must not have been out of the United States. In other words. the alien must have continuously resided in the United States from the time of his entry. Fourth. they must not have withheld from the immigratiori authorities of the United States information concerning their personal history sought in connection with the deportation proceedings. that is. they must have been people of good moral character and must not have committed any crime. This bill permits these men and women who were born in Russia and who have been in this country. 10. 12. and 14 years. who were not subject to deportation. to temain here. The purpose of the law is to permit them to make application for registry and carry out and prove the necessary requirements I have indicated to you. provided they are morally and physically fit. And. as I said a moment ago. in 95 percent of the cases. many of which have been presented .to the committee. were found to be all fine specimens of manhood. people who speak the English language perfectly.