Speech #830015274

U. S. A.. it is a little hard to understand the conclusion of the Board of Immigration Appeals that "there is nothing but favorable comment on the respondents character and demeanor during the years she has lived in the United States." It cannot be said that the State Department was without information concerning the questionable activities of Mrs. Browder for there was in the files of the State Department a lengthy memorandum dated May 10. 1944. reciting numerous facts regarding Mrs. Browder and concluding with this paragraph: It is submitted that her activities and writings show clearly she was an important member of the American Communist Party at least in 1938 and 1939. which membership would render her ineligible under the act of June 28. 1940. and for exit permit and subsequent entry on a quota immigration. The decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals authorized preexamination conditioned upon approval by the State Department of Mrs. Browders preliminary application for an immigration visa. Mrs. Browder then applied for a visa. A committee for preliminary hearings unanim6usly rejected the application. A review committee consisting of a representative of the Army. Navy. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Immigration and Naturalization Service. and the State Department then voted 4 to 1 against granting the visa. The lone vote in favor of granting the visa was by the State Department representative. The case then went to the Board of Appeals for Visa Cases. This Board was made up entirely of political appointees. In the opinion. signed by Robert J. Buckley and Milton J. Helmick. the Board said: It would be a clumsy thing for the United States ever to seek to separate her from her family and deport her on the basis of her alienage from a home in which she has lived nearly 11 years. The American consular officer in charge of the Montreal office was then notified that the State Department "has no objection to the issuance of an immigration visa to RaissaMrs. EarlBrowder. also known as Irene Browder and Raya Berkmen. who is presently residing at 7 Highland Place. Yonkers.