Speech #750060941

Mr. Chairman. the gentleman from Ohio stated a few moments ago that for years. as a member of the Committee on Immigration. I advocated the deportation of alien gunmen. -In that the gentleman is correct. He is also correct in the statement that we have not always agreed on this important question. For the 30 years I have urged not only the deportation of gunmen. but all alien criminals. The majority of the provisions in our immigration law. if not all. which provide for deportation. are provisions that I have aided in drafting. in conjunction with originally the greatest restrictionist in the United States. the gentleman frrom Alabama. the late Honorable John L. Burnett. who for 4 years was chairman of the Committee on Immigration. and who. after years of study. experience. and knowledge obtained on the subject and problems of immigration. realized that in the first few years of his service he was misled by professional restrictionists who misstated the facts to him. I regret that notwithstanding the long service of the gentleman from Ohio . he is still utilizing figures as to the thousands of immigrants in the United States who are here illegally and in violation of the law. The facts are that there is only a nominal number here in violation of the law. Those who are here have demonstrated that they have made good not only in time of peace but also in time of war. I have urged. and I have demanded the deportation of those who have not made good. because we do not desire. and we do not want them here. On the other hand. there are some men who came in illegally who have been unable to become citizens. through no fault of their own. and many others who came in legally who have become charges. due to injuries which they have received In their employment and who were sent to our public hospitals for a few weeks and who have been reported as aliens receiving treatment in our hospitals. and thus regarded as public charges. Our laws provide that they must be deported. It is for those that I plead. for the innocent women and children who are guilty of no crime and no offense. I believe due consideration should be granted them.