Speech #810251181

One of the important changes made by the conferees in the bill as it passed the Senate is the elimination of an amendment submitted by Senator ROBERTSON. of Virginia. Under this amendment. accepted in the late hours of the Senates final deliberations on the bill. certain persons temporarily in the United States could obtain the privilege of permanent residence under section 4 of the 1948 act even if they could safely return to the countries of their last residence. The conferees were unanimous in their opinion that this provision would be too extensive and that it would do much more than originally intended. namely. to provide for a safe haven in the United States for those refugees who have no safe place to go. It is important. however. that the Department of Justice take judicial notice of the conferees sentiments in that respect. As we all agreed. only such countries should be regarded as the countries of the aliens residence in which he had the right to reside permanently in accordance with our construction of "permanent residence." if he had established his domicile. and if he had there the right to work.