Speech #820230157

Mr. President. in which the conferees were able to resolve satisfactorily the differences between the Senate and House versiono of the bill involves the adjustment of status of aliens in this country temporarily as bona fide nonimmigrants. Under the House version. the practice of preexaminati)n would have been continued. under which :ertain aliens in the United States are authorized to proceed to Canada for the purpose of adjusting their Immigration status. This procedure would have been precluded under the Senate version. on the theory that such a practice is cumbersome and obsolete and. as practiced. contains certain loopholes which permit the adjustment of status of undesirable aliens. The conferees adopted the position of the Senate that the practice of preexamination should be discontinued. but other provisions of the bill were modified to permit the adjustment of the status of certain classes of aliens temporarily in the United States to that of permanenit residence. without requiring the aliens to leave the United States. With regard to the grounds for deportation of aliens. the conferees. in conforming the language of the Senate and House versions of the bill. provided a statute of limitations in accord with humanitarian principles. particularly in cases where the ground for deportation is based on mental disease or on economic distress. In this connection. the conferees applied very broad standards of humanitarianism in composing the differences between both versions of the bill relating to the granting of suspension of deportation. Mr. President. the conferees agreed to certain conforming changes to carry out the objective of both bills relating to the elimination of certain obsolete and Inequitable penalties imposed upon transportation companies under existing law. In the course of conforming other differences between the two bills in this respect. the conferees agreed to the elimination of that provision of the proposed legislation which would unduly penalize transportation companies for merely having on board a stowaway. even though the stowaway is discovered and presented to immigration authorities upon the arrival of a vessel or aircraft at a port of entry. In the opinion of the conferees. the bill as reported contains adequate safeguards for the control of the stowaway problem. Mr. President. the foregoing changes in this proposed legislation which were made by the conferees relate to the reconciliation of the points of difference between the Senate.and House versions of the legislation relating to immigration matters. The conferees were also successful in composing the differences between the Senate and House versions relating to matters of nationality and naturalization. The House version of the bill contained a provision restoring citizenship to a limited number of persons who had lost citizenship by voting in elections in Italy. A similar provision was not contained in the Senate version. and the conferees agreed to accept the House provision in an attempt to solve this troublesome problem. The conferees were also successful in composing the difference between the Senate and the House versions of the bill with regard to the question of whether the provision in existing law. which prohibits the naturalization of an alien against whom deportation proceedings are pending. should be continued. The prohibition was not contained in the House bill. but the conferees agreed to retain the prohibition as provided in the Senate bill with an exemption therefrom in the case of aliens who have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States and who are seeking naturalization on that basis either while so serving or following their honorable discharge. Mr. President. the conferees also agreed to compose any differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill relating to the oath of allegiance in such manner as to provide for a naturalization oath which would not violate bona fide religious convictions. if such convictions are properly proved to the naturalization court in accordance with standards set up in the Selective Service Act of 1948. The conferees. Mr. President. were also successful in composing the differences as they appeared in various sections of the bill relating to the retention of United States citizenship by citizens who reside abroad. In the case of naturalized citizens who reside abroad in excess of 5 years in a foreign country other than that in which their place of birth is located. the conferees havg provided for the retention of citizenship in the case of such a citizen who has resided in the United States for 25 years subsequent to his naturalization. With respect to the termination of dual nationality. the conferees accepted the language of the Senate provision relating to age and residence requirements for a dual national who lives in the foreign country of which he is also a national. but modified the language so as to remove any doubt that the loss of United States citizenship by a nativeborn. dual national could occur except by an affirmative act taken by him. The conferees have also agreed to accept the provisions of the House version of the bill with respect to the establishment of a joint congressional committee to maintain surveillance over the administration and operation of the act and to carry on a continuing study of matters affecting the immigration and nationality policy of the United States. This provision was not contained in the Senate bill. but the conferees agreed to accept the House provision. Mr. President. the bill. as reported by the conferees. is a strong bill which will not only provide a complete codification of all our immigration and nationality laws. but will provide this country with a sound immigration and nationality system. It is not an antialien bill as has been alleged by many. and. in most instances. merely reenacts into one law provisions which have been a part of our law for many years. Mr. President. I feel that this is a good bill and that it does not. in any way. violate any rights guaranteed under the Constitution to persons in this country. This revision and codification of our immigration and nationality laws is long overdue. and this bill will help the United States maintain its preeminence among the other nations of the world. preserve its fundamental institutions. and provide fair treatment to those aliens who are accorded the privilege of coming to our shores. I hope. Mr.