Speech #730188849

Speaker. when this bill came before the committee. 25 or 30 members of the Ellis Island Committee. including the very distinguished Mrs. Vincent Astor. appeared on behalf of the bill. The principal contention was that under existing immigration laws certain hardships were effected. resulting in the disintegration of certain families and that there should be some relenting in the severity of the law. I favor the principle that we are seeking to achieve as far as the many people who are innocent bystanders are concerned. So far as the severity of the law is concerned. I believe a very short amendment to the act of 1917 would have accomplished the purpose which is sought by this bill. So far as deportation of these hardened inveterate offenders are concerned. I differ with Colonel McCormack. I regard him as a most estimable gentleman and as a man of attainment and distinction. However. I differ with him in the respect that we should particularly define in the law the deportable offenses and then allow no discretion whatever. In seeking to effectuate that thought in this bill I think we have made a mistake. Time is not going to permit of a full exposition of this bill. but may I say if you will look at section3 you will find that an alien who is otherwise deportable. provided he is of good moral character. has not been convicted of a crime. and has not been guilty of subversive agitation may be permitted to remain in this country in the discretion of the Secretary of Labor. even though the immigrant illegally entered the country. probably coming across the border. Now. remember that it is a deportable offense to enter this country illegally and yet you would confer discretionary power to permit that immigrant to remain in this country. provided certain other conditions were complied with. as recited in section 3. If you will look at subsection 5 of section 3. you will find it would be possible for someone to come into this country under a temporary permit. At the end of a year such person would be deportable unless the temporary permit had been extended. Such person has not committed a crime. has not been guilty of any offense involving moral turpitude. and yet the Secretary of Labor is given discretionary power to permit such person to remain in the country. I might go on and exhaust all of the subparagraphs and show many conditions under which persons who illegally entered this country might be permitted to remain here. even though illegal entry is in itself a deportable offense. May I say that this bill grants too much discretionary authority and is altogether too dangerous. and it may make this country the haven for a great many people who now live across the seas. even though we now have millions who are unemployed. I thoroughly sympathize with the Commissioner of Immigration. I believe he is a gentleman who is trying to do his best to deport these hardened offenders and trying to save intact these families that have been ruthlessly disintegrated under the severity of the law. but this is not the kind of a bill with which to do it. because in applying a partial remedy to one evil it creates another evil which is infinitely greater.