Speech #760214596

Lewis Douglas was Director of the Budget. I recommended to Mr. Douglas and the President that the Immigration Bureau and the Naturalization Bureau be put together. That suggestion was acted upon favorably. I likewise suggested then that it should be transferred to the Department of Justice. That suggestion was not accepted. The gentleman from North Carolina has. time and again. urged the President to place this organization in the Department of Justice. where it properly belongs. The principal duty of the Immigration and Naturalization Service is law enforcement. Recall if you will we have. at this session of Congress. increased the appropriation of the Bureau of Investigation nearly $10.000.000. It has been very busy investigating subversive activities. Aliens are mixed up in these activities and there can be coordination between the two agencies. Practically all of the duties of the Naturalization Service must be of a judicial nature. Years ago any court could issue naturalization papers but there was such abuse of our laws it has now been placed solely in the hands of the Federal judiciary. where the applicant must appear in person. If ever there was justification for transferring a Government activity from one department to another it will be found in this order. There are only a few. if any Members. opposed to the transfer. They cannot submit a sound argument for their views. The Immigration Service likewise has a great deal of business before the Federal courts. especially those cases where deportation warrants have been issued and appeals have been taken to the Federal courts. By placing this organization in the Department of Justice. it will make for better enforcement of our immigration and naturalization laws. which we certainly need in these critical times. This is not a reflection upon the Secretary of Labor. The fact is we have not been liberal enough with our appropriations for border patrol and investigation. Madam Perkins has. to a certain extent. been handicapped by lack of sufficient personnel. The nine members of your Select Committee on Reorganization are unanimous in favor of this plan. There is one matter. however. that I desire to call to the attention of the House. When the President submitted this plan it was so worded that it transferred "funds available." including the funds available for the fiscal year ending June 30. 1941. for the use of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. to the Department of Justice. The word "available" being included inthe plan. and the appropriation bill for 1941 for this Bureau not yet having been sent to the President. we have no assurance that the appropriation for 1941 will be available when the President signs this plan. or 10 days thereafter. The gentleman from New York very properly called attention to this matter. and in order to prevent what might be an embarrassing situation it is my purpose to offer a committee amendment at the end of the resolution which will take care of the situation and likewise will take care of numerous private acts that we have passed. and are on the calendar. which might be considered at a later date. wherein the Secretary of Labor is directed to carry out certain provisions of the immigration law. Mr. Chairman.