Speech #740170061

Mr. Speaker. a proper solution of our immigration problem deserves the serious consideration of the Congress and every American citizen. According to the 1930 census there were 14.204.149 foreign born in the United States. of whom 6.284.613 were aliens who had failed to make the slightest gesture toward becoming citizens. The foreignstock population at that time was 40.286.278. a third of our total population. This was the largest number in the history of the Nation. During the past 10 years of quotalaw restriction. during which the world has undergone the most serious economic depression in its history. 3.687.547 aliens have entered the United States. of whom 2.010.896 were new immigrants. At least one out of every eight persons on relief in this country is an alien. Our Delief agencies make no distinction between American citizens and aliens in administering relief. The Social Security Act makes no distinction in the application of its terms between American citizens and aliens. Hundreds of thousands of aliens are holding jobs in America. drawing hundreds of millions of dollars in wages. which are rightfully the heritage of American citizens. Alien criminals who are roving at large and preying upon American citizens should be deported. We are unable to check upon the number of aliens at large or the number coming into this country for lack of an alienregistration act. In order to protect our wage standards. our living conditions. and our American institutions. and to reduce the relief burden. alleviate social conditions. remove our alien criminal population. and provide for an alienregistration act. I am introducing today a bill to be called the Immigration and Alien Registration Act of 1936. This bill will (1) reduce immigration. (2) authorize the exclusion of any alien whose entry into the United States is inimical to the public interest. (3) prohibit the separation of families through the entry of aliens leaving dependents abroad. (4) provide for the prompt deportation of habitual criminals and all other undesirable aliens. and (5) to provide for the registration of all aliens now in the United States or who shall herafter be admitted. We must enact and enforce immigration laws which will place the welfare of America and Americans first. No other country pets and mollycoddles its alien population as we do. Other countries take the proper and sensible view that in a country with established government and institutions for the promotion of the welfare of its citizens that these citizens are entitled to first consideration in every respect.