Mr. President. since the founding of this country the nationals of practically all countries have been welcomed. The very foundation of our social and industrial life has been built by immigrants from Europe and from the Western Hemisphere. who have contributed to the wea:th and culture of the country. There was a time when almost unlimited numbers were welcome. and there was a time when they proceeded to this country. particularly from Europe. in as great numbers as available transportation would accommodate. As late as 1921 an average of almost 1.000.000 immigrants a year were arriving on our shores. This movement was greatly accelerated at the end of the First World War. when the governments of Europe were in great turmoil. and millions of people were on the move. At the same time our country was becoming stabilized. and the capacity for receiving many thousands of immigrants was becoming limited. The Congress of the United States for many years had under consideration the question of formulating an immigration policy which would settle once and for all the problems attendant upon a growing population within. and the effect of additional thousands of population from without. It was obvious in the years following World War I that limitations upon immigration had to be applied. There was great danger that the free and prosperous way of life in America would be overthrown unless a halt were called to the influx of millions of aliens whose environment in their native lands had not fitted them for assimilation in the American population. The country was being flooded with cheap labor which threatened to disrupt labor standards. The large cities were being overcrowded with immigrants who banded together with those who spoke their own language and whose way of life was in accord with their foreign upbringing. These elements were not adjusting to American life. and were becoming a detriment rather than an asset. The Congress in 1921 passed the first restrictive quota limitations. In 1924 the presnt basic immigration act was passed. This legislation established the policy of the United States. and fixed specifi numbers of aliens who would be permitted to come to the United States annually. Approximately 154.000 immigrants from Europe are permitted to immigrate to America pursuant to the provisions o the 1924 act. Although unlimited numbers are permitted from the Western Hemisphere countries. the immigration problem from these countries has never been acute. Mr. President. time and experience amply indicate the wisdom of this immigration policy fixed by the Congress in the quota laws. It is foolhardy to imagine hat the United States. or any nation. can exist in prosperity without restrictive immigration while the other nations of the world are in social and political turmoil. The displacedpersons problem in Europe has long since ceased to be an undertaking to relieve the displacedpersons camps. It is no longer a problem concerning real wardisplaced persons. because the United States and other receiving nations A:.-e resettled practically all the unfortnate victims of the Hitler regime in Germany and all the forced laborers who were liberated by the Allied armies upon the occupation of Germany.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants banded together with those who spoke their own language and whose way of life was in accord with their foreign upbringing. These elements were not adjusting to American life, and were becoming a detriment rather than an asset.