Speech #820209098

We know that consuls have a hard time of it. However. we want at least to afford some opportunity of appeal to a responsible body which can pass on these questions. As I said before. the McCarran bill. aside from a few constructive changes. makes scores of destructive changes whose only purpose is to keep more people out of the United States and to raise new barriers and new obstructions to immigration. The purpose of these provisions cannot be to keep subversives out. Subversives are already kept out by existing law. although there are a few loopholes which do need plugging and which are plugged in the HumphreyLehman bill. But the McCarran bill goes to extreme lengths to bar anybody and almost everybody. and to deport anybody and almost everybody. Consuls and immigration officials are given authority. in Section 212 (a) (27)-and that is the section to which I referredfor instance. to bar anybody who. in the opinion of the consul or the immigration officials. might probably. in the future. engage in any activities which "would be prejudicial to the public interest." What does this mean? On what basis will a consul decide that an alien might. at some time in the future. engage in activities prejudicial to the public interest? No basis is set forth in this provision. and no review or guide is provided.