Speech #800180915

To them is given a 50percent priority. The other 50 percent is left open to the displaced persons of other national origins. Another vital provision of the bill is prompted by the facts which I have referred to in regard to the processing of applicants for visas to the United States. The bill provides that no eligible displaced persons shall be admitted into the United States unless there shall have first been a written report prepared by such agency as the President shall designate regarding such persons character. history. and eligibility under the bill. and the burden of proof is on the applicant. This provision in the bill. and it is the only bill which makes provision for screening or examining these persons for admission to see whether or not they are affiliated. with subversive groups or whether they should be permitted entry at this time of great world turmoil and mixed political thinking. The bill provides. Mr. President. for a commission to formulate and issue necessary regulations. but the actual administration of the program. that is the carrying out of the orders of the Commission. is to be by the regular immigration officials. The bill further provides for periodic reports from those persons admitted and from the Commission to the President and to the Congress. The bill also provides for the elimination of preferences and priorities to displaced persons under the general immigration laws. which began in December 1945. and opens up the immigration laws to the persons who are nationals of the countries to which the quotas are assigned. There are many persons who sat back waiting for an opportunity to come to the United States. who had to stand aside because a displaced person was put ahead of them. Kinsmen of persons who have long been citizens of the United States are back in their home country waiting. having been pushed back because displaced persons were put ahead of them. If the pending bill should be passed a separate category will be fixed for the displaced persons. and immigrants who qualify under the immigration law may come to the United States under the regular methods. The reason for that provision is not only so that all displaced persons - shall be admitted under the same procedures. but so that certain other immigrants. as I before said. who are eligible for immigration to the United States. may have an opportunity to come to the United States. There are two other provisions of the bill to which I shall allude. The first would enable PCIRO to pay the passage for displaced persons coming to the United States and would exempt them from paying the fee for the issuance of an immigration visa. and would exempt them from paying the head tax. The second makes special provision for the admission of displaced persons who are adopted by our overseas personnel. This last provision is one which was suggested to the committee. and the committee felt it should be written in the bill.