Speech #740208225

Recognizing to a certain extent that objection. the committee in their final meeting adopted two changes in section 3: First. that it shall apply only to those who came into the country prior to the enactment of the bill. second. that the interdepartmental committee shall exist for a period of 3 years only. and that after that time section 3 shall be absolutely of no further force and effect. I appreciate the argument made by the Senator from Texas that once an organization is created there is the possibility that it may continue. However. in the consideration of section 3 we do have to recognize the fact that the policy of this Government from the time of its beginning has been one of friendliness toward immigration. We have built up our country upon the basis of immigrants. All of us look back to somebody who was an immigrant--a grandfather or grandmother or greatgrandfather or greatgrandmother somewhere back in our family history. This country has been developed by immigrants. Comparatively few years ago we in this country changed our policy. We reached a point in our economic development where it was necessary to change our policy. Our labor supply became such that we could not leave the gates open any longer. and we closed them. As a part of this change of policy and a difference of attitude of the people of this country toward immigration we have in this country today many persons who have come in illegally. We may call them criminals if we desire. They have violated the entry law. In my personal practice I have had a large number of persons come to meand I never specialized in immigration workwho have said. "I thought I was in this country legally. I went up and tried to be naturalized. and I find that I am not here legally. I did not do a certain thing which I should have done when I came in. What can I do about it?" I have had to tell them that they probably would have to go out and come back into the country again. Before the enactment of the quota laws there was no difficulty about that. but since the enactment of the quota laws there has been difficulty. We have changed our policy. and we have in this country today. so far as the efforts of the Department of Labor are concerned. 2.862 known cases of persons whose families would be subjected to very extreme hardship if deportation should occur. I do not think there is anybody here. I do not care what his attitude may be upon the question of immigration. who feels that there should be deportation in a case where a father came into this country 11 years ago. he has two or three children born after that time. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. or 6 years of age. they are citizens of this country. and he. because of the fact that he failed to comply with some provision of the immigration law. finds himself now subject to deportation. He may be sent back to Italy. but the children cannot go to Italy. They are citizens of this country.