Speech #760003183

I do not Intend to modify my statement. I repeat that conferences and commissions do not help people to escape death. because they simply lead to more commissions and more conferences. When I say we are doing nothing to help refugees I mean that we are not allowing them to use up the quotas that are left over every year in this country and that we throw in the basket. I am saying. figuratively speaking. that we are not allowing human beings to save their lives by letting them come in here under the unused quotas. I am not speaking of conferences. wherever they are. As to the number of aliens. the number of aliens admitted to the United States since the restrictive immigration laws went into effect has been dwindling from year to year. In 1935 the total number admitted was 34.956. in 1936 the total number admitted was 36.327. in 1937. 50.244. and in the last year. 67.895. But against this figure must be charged the number of aliens who left the United States during the years in question. and it will be observed that for 6 years. from 1931 to and including 1936. the number of departures exceeded the number of admissions. So that we have for the years 1931 to 1936 the following figures: 1931. 10.237 more aliens left this country than entered it. 1932. 112.786 more aliens left this country than entered it. 1933. 93.074 more aliens left this country than entered it. 1934. 13.268 more aliens left this country than entered it. 1935. 9.329 more aliens left this country than entered It. 1936. 2.385 more aliens left this country than entered it. It is only since 1937in the last 2 years--that immigration exceeds emigration. and. even so. the excess is very slight. In 1937 the net number of immigrants was 7.302. and in 1938 the net number of immigrants was 30.083. So that in the face of all the clamor raised about refugees and others entering the United States we only had a net total immigration last year of little over 30.000. As to deportations. the number of deportations have been increasing from year to year. and the total of deportations should be further deducted from the amount of net immigration for the years in question. Thus. we find that in 1934 there were 8.879 aliens deported. in 1935. 8.319. in 1936. 9.915. in 1937. 8.829. and in 1938. 9.275. The average deportations being around 8.500 to 9.000 in each year. As to immigration quotas. the annual immigration quota under the immigration law is 153.774. In not a single year since the law went into effect has this quota been reached. and no immigration quotas in any one year since 1931 were in excess of 50.000. As a matter of fact. the number is far below this figure. In 1931 there were 54.118 aliens admitted to the United States under immigration quotas. but this figure represents the highest total number of admissions in any one year between 1931 and 1938. The following year. 1932. had but 12.983 quota visas issued. and the low was reached in the following year. 1933. when only 8.220 quota visas were issued. In 1934 the number was 12.483. in 1935. 17.207. In 1936. 18.675. in 1937. 27.762. and in 1938. 42.494. So that even in 1938. with all demands by refugees and others. the total quota visas issued was less than that in 1931. and far below the authorized quota of 153.774. There is an impression abroad to the effect that the passage of the restricted immigration law by Congress was absolutely necessary because of economic conditions then existing in the United States. Somehow or other. right after the World War most statesmen insisted on restricting the number of aliens who would be inclined to enter this country. apparently being afraid that a large influx of immigrants would destroy our economic system. And yet. strange as it may seem. right after the passage of the restricted immigration law. and. in fact. for 7 years or so thereafter. the number of emigrants who left the United States exceeded the number of those who entered this country. The figures also show that only in the last 2 years there has been a somewhat increased number of immigrants as against emigrants. and even so. the number is very slight. We. as legislators. who are accustomed to analyze and digest facts. must therefore take exception to the promiscuous statements relating to immigration which come from socalled patriotic organizations or the American Legion. even if those expressions be well meaning and intended to convey facts. The record speaks for itself. I am not quarreling with some of my colleagues who have spoken about the Department of Labor. but figures do not lie. I believe the Department of Labor under this administration has a fine record to its credit in connection with the deportation of aliens.