Speech #750168389

I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman. if only the committee would sit down and read some immigration law and then try to legislate. we might know what they were doing. Criminals are being taken care of. I respectfully submit. Mr. Chairman. that section 7 (c) of the present immigration law. which I think my friend did not look at. provides that an immigrant shall furnish to the consular officer two copies of his prison record. of his military record. and of his birth certificate. in other words. an alien cannot enter the country under the section of the present law I have just quoted unless he is of good character and unless he is in a position to establish that he is an honesttogoodness person who may be of some value to this country. The consul cannot issue a visa to any alien who has not got these qualifications. So no criminals are coming in here. and. as a matter of fact. no immigration is coming in here to speak of. In 1922 or 1923 the number of immigrants entering this country totaled 1.400.000. today it is almost insignificant. about 9.000 or 11.000. and this number includes wives and children of American citizens. I am not at all quarreling with my colleague the gentleman from Georgia . I have the highest regard for himthat is. his way of thinkingbut he is trying to tell the Congress this: For the sake of illustration let us suppose your brother came from England and entered this country with permisison to stay here 6 months.