Speech #740152779

Mr. Speaker. the lawabiding aliens in the United States should not be handicapped. in these difficult times of economic readjustment. by threats of wholesale and mandatory deportations and compulsory naturalization. and I will do everything I can in the performance of my official duties to reassure aliens here. who are not in any of the criminal classes. that they will continue to have the equal security guaranteed to them and to citizens by our Constitution and by our laws. Several of the opponents of the Kerr bill. including my colleague in the House and former member of my committee. the Honorable MARTIN DIES. of Texas. have taken upon themselves to issue to the public and to broadcast over the radio some statements which are not only unfair and unAmerican but express unsound principles and figures that are apparently untrue. Assertions have been made in print and by voice which would have the general public believe there are now in the United States from 6.000.000 to 20.000.000 aliens and that of these aliens from three and a half million to 10.000.000 are now here illegally and subject to deportation. It has also been proposed that all aliens now unlawfully here should be immediately deported and that all aliens who are legally here should become citizens within a year. All of these statements are so fantastic and are such exaggerations that I feel all rightthinking American people should be given. without delay. an answer with authoritative information from trustworthy sources. Following a most careful examination of the records of the Census Bureau. of the records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. and of other sources of reliable information. the Honorable Daniel W. MacCormack. Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization. recently told our committee during open public hearings that the total number of foreignborn persons now in the United States. other than those who have become citizens. or those who have filed their declarations of intention to become citizens or those minors who will becoma citizens upon the naturalization of parents with declarations of intention is not in excess of 3.403.000. Colonel MacCormack. at the same hearings. also stated that he was compelled to the conclusion that it is extremely unlikely that there are now as many as 100.000 aliens who are here illegally and subject to deportation under existing laws. The Kerr bill. which is now awaiting consideration on the floor of the House. is primarily a legislative measure to enable the more effective and humane administration of our deportation laws. but the inevitable result of its enactment will be to reduce the alien population of our country and to further restrict hereafter both legal and illegal immigration from abroad. An interdepartmental committee. made up of representatives of three Government departmentsJustice. State. and Laborwill be authorized to study certain cases involving aliens who are in the noncriminal classesthat is. aliens whose only offense may be a technical violation of the immigration law. but for which there is no criminal penalty provided other than deportationand then in these cases exercise limited discretion to adjust the status of certain of these aliens in a humane manner calculated to preserve the unity of homes honorably established on American soil and to prevent Americanborn minor children becoming orphans in their native land. The Kerr bill grants no discretionary power to adjust the status of any alien whose deportation is mandatory under existing law on grounds that the alien has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. or is deportable as an anarchist or Communist. or is deportable on account of any violation of State or Federal laws regarding the importation or sale or distribution of narcotics. or who is not of good moral character. or who is deportable as a prostitute. procurer. or similar immoral person. Deportations will be greater in number because there are four classes added to the aliens subject to deportation that are not covered by existing laws. these include the habitual criminal. the racketeer. the gunman. the alien smuggler of aliens. and violators of State narcotic laws. Apprehensions of aliens subject to deportation and temporary detention of them without warrant will legally enable immigration officials to more efficiently get aliens who now escape and are lost before the issuance of lawful warrant can be secured. Fewer foreignborn persons who have never before been here will arrive as quota immigrants because the number of all aliens who have been permitted by the interdepartmental