Speech #760057270

Mr. Speaker. the bill under consideration is one of a series which are intended to take care of a situation that has been before the Congress during the past 4 years. A number of aliens have come into this country upon passports which were subsequently found to be illegally issued or to have been fraudulently obtained by the immigrant. During the last Congress the bills were objected to when they first appeared on the Private Calendar. They were placed in an omnibus private claims bill. but unfortunately the House was not able to complete its action upon the bill. so the bills are again before us in this Congress. In view of the fact that the House apparently signified an intention to pass the bill by approving each individual title of the omnibus bill which received consideration during the last Congress. the objectors have offered this amendment to this particular bill. and it is our intention to offer a similar amendment to each of the subsequent bills. The purpose of the amendment is to allow this alien to remain permanently in the United States but to deny to him both now and hereafter any right to become a citizen of the United States. In view of the fact that the aliens have entered the country illegally through some fraud either on their own part in which they may have been participants. or through fraud that may have been performed in their behalf. the alien being entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. we nevertheless feel that the alien should not be treated in the same manner as other aliens who have fully complied with the law and entered the country legally and are here in accordance with our immigration laws. Because it would work a hardship in many cases to deport these aliens some 10 or 15 years after their entrance into the country we believe that they should not be sent back to their native country. It would mean the separation of families. since the alien would leave in this country either husband or wife and two or three minor children.