Speech #780042074

Certainly the person who drafted the provision had no such intent. If I understand the language. there are a number of very definite limitations. In the first place. it refers to those "desiring to perform agricultural labor in the United States during continuation of hostilities in the present war." Not only would such immigrants be confined to agricultural labor. but they would be very definitely confined to the period of hostilities of the present war. That is a specific limitation. Upon the conclusion of the war each and every one of these persons will be subject to immediate deportation. We cannot write legislation which will guarantee that whoever may be Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization will do his duty. but certainly I think we have the right to assume that every public official will attempt to carry out the will of the Congress. and to enforce the laws passed by Congress relating to immigration. There Is another limitation. The Senator from West Virginia has stated that there is no assurance that these persons will not transfer from agricultural labor to other employment. I was impressed .when the- Senator raised that question when the bill was before the Senate previously. Certainly it is clear from three or four phrases in subsection (g) of section 5. that the moment one of these aliens leaves agricultural employment he shall be immediately deported to the country of his origin. There can be no question about that. because it says the alien shall be imported only to perform agricultural labor. Further on in the subsection it is provided that any alien who fails to maintain the status for which he was admitted shall be deported. What is the status? For agricultural labor within the United States? If he fails to maintain his status of an agricultural laborer the clear mandate of this subsection. in which the Congress speaks to the Commissioner. is that the Commissioner shall deport him forthwith. and the rules and regulations which the Commissioner might make certainly cannot supersede the clearly expressed will of Congress in that matter. If persons brought into this country cease to perform agricultural labor. if they fail to comply with the terms of their admission. if they stay here after the cessation of hostilities. they are immediately to be deported. Not only that. Mr. President. but these persons are brought into the United States under a contract or agreement which has been entered into with the Government of Mexico. let us say. or with the Government of the Bahama Islands. .The contract or agreement specifically provides that they are to perform agricultural labor. and agricultural labor only. and that they are to be deported from this country at such time as the proper agency of the Government determines that they should leave the country. I do not think Congress can afford to say that these persons shall stay in the United States for not more than 3 months. or 6 months. We do in fact say that they shall stay only during the present war. that when hostilities cease they shall be deported. We say that they must engage in agricultural labor. and if they change to any other form of labor they shall be deported. Perhaps the section is not as clear as It might be. but to my mind it is sufficiently clear. I want Senators to bear in mind that in discussing the question of foreign labor we are discussing one of the smallest phases of this entire matter.