Mr. Biddle gives facts. not fancy. It is one thing for the Congress to pass acts with reference to immigration. and it is another thing for those in charge of the administration of the statute so to administer it as to deny the intent of Congress as embodied in .the statute. Mr. Long. for example. set up all manner and kinds of conditions and restraints with reference to the applications for entering of immigrants. and among them he said that no one shall be permitted entrance if the person intending to enter has relatives in Axiscontrolled Europe. and he laid down as a condition precedent to entrance that the Interdepartmental Visa and Control Committee cannot permit entry if the intended immigrant has such a relative in Nazicontrolled Europe. Ipso facto. that regulation cut off wellnigh 90 percent of all potential refugees from Europe. Be advised that most refugees have some relatives in Axiscontrolled Europe. That regulation in and of itself cut down immigration to the bone. Mr. Long had the hardihood to say that he was still adhering to the historic attitude of the United States as a haven for the oppressed. Frankly. the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor is supposed to hold up a light beside a golden door to welcome the tempesttossed of all lands. If Mr. Long has his way. that light will have to be blotted out and the Statue of Liberty can no longer welcome in immigrants to this country. Mr. Long ruled that the Interdepartmental Visa Control Committee could not give a reason for rejection of an application for a visa for a refugee. It takes months for applications to be acted upon. Five departments must report on each sponsor and each immigrant. whether the latter be in Europe or in this country or wherever he may be. The Departments involved are the State. War.
Identified stereotypes
Most refugees have relatives in Axis-controlled Europe.