Unfortunately. some unfair discrimination is contained in certain provisions of this bill. Amendments to correct or eliminate these discriminatory provisions have already been defeated with only a few of us of like mind remaining in the Chamber to vote for them. We have therefore missed an opportunity to make this bill the vehicle for much needed modernization of some of our immigration policies. I. for one. do not like to see unused quota numbers forfeitedfor nonuse by eligible persons while others longing for an opportunity to escape oppression Pre made ineligible to use such quota numbers. If we are willing to admit a given number of immigrants. we should permit the full number to come. admitting each as an individual based upon his or her own qualifications for admittance. Those of us whose ancestors came here long ago or recently exercise a high privilege when we say which of Gods children shall be permitted to migrate to a part of Gods earth. There Is no divine restriction on migration. no divine division of the earth into racial or religious areas. We. therefore. in exercising the privilege accorded to us as citizens of a sovereign nation must be very careful to be fair and just. Obviously. to preserve opportunity. freedom. and orderliness. we must regulate immigration. but we also must not be unmindful of the great values involved in bringing new people into our partnership for democracy and defense of our way of life. We need more Americans to share the great task of leading the peoples of the world out from under the threatening shadows of totalitarianism. I am disappointed that the pending bill does not change the law so as to permit us to open our doors to more persons who sincerely desire to adopt our way of life and help us defend and perpetuate it.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants