Speech #810153377

Mr. Rosenfield. who is a member of the Displaced Persons Commission. testified before the subcommittee that there were at that time 7.096 displaced persons who had been processed abroad who were waiting at the port of embarkation for shipping space. It is appropriate to observe at this point that after the displaced persons who have been admitted gain citizenship. certain of their relatives. under our general immigration law. are entitled to be admitted into the United States on a nonquota basis. Now. Mr. President. in conjunction with the issue as to the numbers that this country can and should receive. it is important that we consider the overall immigration problems of this Nation. At the present time the total registered demand under our present quota law shows a backlog of over a million. The statistics reveal a tremendous increase in the influx both legally and illegally of people from all over the world. During the fiscal year 1948. over 170.000 aliens were admitted into the United States for permanent residence. In addition. approximately onehalf million persons were admitted into the United States from overseas. presumably on a temporary basis. but we know that many of these persons will do everything possible to remain in the United States. Evidence of this is the everincreasing number of private immigration bills which provide for the adjustment of status of illegal aliens and the rising tide of cases of suspension of deportation. Under the law in certain types of cases. the Attorney General is empowered to suspend deportation tnd recommend the adjustment of status of the aliens involved to that of permanent residence. Already during this session of the Congress the Senate has approved by concurrent resolution the adjustment of status of over 3.000 cases. During the period from 1938 to 1948 the number of arrivals of United States citizens from abroad. who. of course. are admitted without numerical limit. exceeded the number of United States citizens departing by over 330.000.