Speech #760293125

I thank the gentleman for the information and it confirms my thought on the matter. As one who is a long way removed from his ancestors who came from Europe to American shores. I may be exhibiting that common American characteristic of the older inhabitants by wishing to tighten our immigration laws and deal more firmly with the aliens who have come among us. Yet I do appreciate the splendid human contribution which America has continually received from abroad. I am confident that love of America burns as fiercely or even more fiercely in the breasts of many newcomers than it burns in the breasts of some naturalborn Americans or those who have descended from naturalborn Americans. While all that is true. we must recognize that there are dangerous aliens among us. Even discounting some of the fears and. the exaggerations of alarmists about "fifth columnists." prudence dictates that we reshape our- laws concerning immigrants and concerning the taking out of American citizenship and concerning the treatment of resident aliens in this country. Now that the Old World is on fire. and there will be effort made by many nationals of warring countries to escape Old World troubles and get to America. there is especial need of vigilance on our part to be more selective and to debar the dangerous and undesirable variety and deport that variety who are already here. American citizenship must mean something. It does mean very much. and it must not be too freely bestowed upon the unworthy. Those of us who have read sacred history remember how a great but despised early Christian frequently avoided persecution and escaped imprisonment merely by pronouncing the magic words. "I am a Roman citizen." Would to God every worthy person within the confines of our country might put greater meaning into similar words by proudly affirming. "I am an American citizen." Such would afford him all the rights. benefits. privileges. and blessings of our Bill of Rights and of the entire Constitution of the United States. I have no patience with aliens who come to our shores. or who have years ago come to our shores. for selfish reasons. have lived here for years without attempting to become naturalized citizens. I have no plea nor excuse for them. and have never asked any special consideration of them. Of course. I am very well aware that there are many resident aliens in this country who have not become citizens. and who would like very much to become citizens. being prevented by some explainable matter from doing so. I have pity rather than censure for such aliens residing among us if their loyalty and attitude in other respects may be approved. During recent weeks a sort of wartime hysteria has swept this country. and some professed patriotic leaders have demanded deportation of all alien troublemakersas if we were not all anxious to do just that. They have been impatient of delay and careless about method. These wouldbe political figures sometimes assert that aliens residing in this country have no rights at all under the Constitution. and that they should be deported merely on the ground that they are charged with beihg hurtful. It is my understanding that the entrance of a foreigner into this country Is not a right of his but a privilege which our Government may grant or withhold. but when an alien has entered this country legallyor at least not illegallyand has resided here. that his status ripens into a right to the protection of our Constitution exactly as the Constitution and Bill of Rights protect American citizens. I further understand that the Supreme Court of the United States has declared that the writ of habeas corpus applies to an alien: in this country exactly as to an American citizen. and that the right of judicial trial according to due process of law is guaranteed by the Constitution itself to aliens and nationals of other countries living in this country. Of course. some of these benefits to resident aliens may be further strengthened by treaty provisions between our Government and the governments of which they are subjects. Naturally such treaty provisions. according to the Constitution. become a part of the Constitution itself. There certainly has been need. in recent months. for new legislation concerning immigrants and aliens. and Congress has passed quite a body of laws besides this measure before us today dealing with the subject. This legislative process has been going on for more than a year. On the 28th of June last. a comprehensive measure finally became law providing for the registration of aliens and also providing for deportation of certain classes of dangerous and undesirable aliens. I recall that the House bills which constituted the initial form of this recent legislation passed the House in May 1939. and I recall that the conference report on some of this legislation came before the House on June 22 this year. Apparently it takes considerable time to affect final enactment of these much needed measures.