Speech #800189801

amendment proposes to strike out all after the enacting clause and Insert: That this act may be cited an the Displaced Persons Act of 1948. SEc. 2. When used !n this act the term(a) "Commission" means the Displaced Persons Commission created pursuant to this act. (b) "Displaced person" means any (isplaced person or refugee as defined in annex I of the constitution of the International Refugee Organization and who is the concern of the International Refugee Organization. (c) "Eligible displaced person" mens a displaced person as defined in subsection (b) above. (1) who on or after September 1. 1939. and on or before December 22. 1945. entered Germany. Austria. or Italy and who on January 1. 1948. was in Italy or the American sector. the British sector. or the French sector of either Berlin or Vienna or the American zone. the British zone. or the French zone of either Germany or Austria. or a person who. having resided in Germany or Austria. was a victim of persecution by the Nazi government and was detained in. or was obliged to flee from suci persecution and was subsequently returned to. one of these countries as a result if enemy action. or of war circumstances. and on January 1. 1948. was in one of said uectors or zones but had not on January 1. 1948. been firmly resettled therein. and (2) who is qualified under the immigration laws of the United bLtates for permanent residence. and (3) who Is a person of a vocation. r111. or occupation needed in the locality in the United States in which such person proposes to reside. and (4) for whom assurances in accordance with the regulations of the Commission have been given that such person. if admitted into the United States. will be suitably employed without displacing some other person from employment and that such parson. and the members of such persons family whe shall accompany such person and who prcpose to live with such person. shall not become public charges and will have safe and sanitary housing without displacing some other person from such housing. The spouse. and unmarried dependent child under 21 years of age. of an eligible displaced person shall if otherwise qualified for admission into the United States for permanent residence. also be deemed an eligible displaced person. (d) "Eligible displaced orphan" means a displaced person (1) who is under the age of 14 years. and (2) who is qualified under the immigration laws of the United States for admission into the United States for permanent residence. and (3) who is an orphan because of the death or disappearance of both parents. and (4) who. on or before the effective date of this act. was in Italy in the American zone. the British zone or the French zone of either Germany or Austria. and (5) for whom satisfactory assurances in accordance with the regulations of the Commission have been given that such person. if admitted into the United States. will be cared for properly. SEc. 3. In addition to persons admissible as immigrants under other laws of the United States. and subject to the provisions of this act. a number of eligible displaced persons and eligible displaced orphans not to exceed 140.000 may be admitted into the United States for permanent residence during the fiscal years ending June 30. 1949. and June 30. 1950. of which number not more than 70.000 may be admitted during the fiscal year ending June 30. 1949. Eligible displaced persons and eligible displaced orphans may be permitted entry into the United States pursuant to this act irrespective of nationality: Provided. however. That not less than 50 percent of the visas Issued pursuant to this act shall be available exclusively to eligible displaced persons and eligible displaced orphans whose place of origin or country of nationality has been annexed by a foreign power. Priority in the issuance of visas shall be given first to those eligible displaced orphans who. on January 1. 1948. were located in displacedpersons camps and centers. and second to eligible displaced persons who during World War II bore arms against the enemies of the United States and are unable or unwilling to return to the countries of which they are nationals because of persecution or fear of persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinions. and third to other eligible displaced persons who. on January 1. 1948. were located in displacedpersons camps and centers. but in exceptional cases visas may be issued to those eligible displaced orphans and eligible displaced persons located outside of displacedpersons camps and centers upon a showing. in accordance with the regulations of the Commission. of special circumstances which would justify such issuance. Upon the issuance of an immigration visa to any eligible displaced person or eligible displaced orphan as provided for in this act. the consular officer shall use a quota number from the immigration quota of the country of the aliens nationality as defined in section 12 of the act of May 26. 1924 (U. S. C.. title 8. sec. 212). for the fiscal year then current at the time or the next succeeding year in which a quota number is available: Provided.